Liam Conlin of Boothbay was one of three high school students from the Midcoast who received CEO status  June 3 at the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber’s (SMMC) Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Commencement.

After months of hard work, this year’s instructor, Robin Whorff, (Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay) and SMMC Chairman of the Board of Directors Earle Harvey (Mechanics Savings Bank), awarded the class their certificates alongside the program’s manager, Carolyn Farkas-Noe (SMMC).

“This is a very unique program, where kids can actually launch real businesses or social movements,” said Robin Whorff. This year’s enterprises are: Liam Conlin's Down East Jerky, a retail business selling smoked, organic premium meat jerky in a variety of flavors, CEO Conlin is home-schooled; Catherine “Cat” Johnson's Dirigo Fro-Yo, a retail business selling healthy, frozen yogurt treats with customized toppings.

CEO Johnson attends Waynflete School and is a resident of Bowdoin, Maine; Michael “Bru” Abreu's Attack Adversity, a product-based company (primarily T-shirts), with a positive message of overcoming hardships. CEO Abreu attends Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham and is a resident of Harpswell.

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking nine-month program that guides students in grades 6-12 through the process of starting a real business, including business plan development, pitching an investor panel, obtaining funding, launching the venture, managing media campaigns, e-commerce and Web development, sales events and trade shows.

Students, ages 11 to 18, are taught to recognize the power of their ideas, and to develop the skills necessary to turn those ideas into meaningful enterprises. The next Young Entrepreneurs Academy begins in early October 2013. For more information and to obtain an application, email yea@midcoastmaine.com.