The Chaplin Business Education Initiative is a structured, school-based entrepreneurship initiative designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of business planning, critical thinking, and professional presentation. The program combines classroom instruction with a hands-on business plan competition, allowing students to apply academic concepts to real-world scenarios.

Program Objectives

• Develop foundational entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills
• Encourage creativity, problem-solving, and initiative
• Build confidence through structured presentation and feedback

Program Funding & Support

The Chaplin Family Foundation provides annual funding to support student scholarships, program materials, and presentation-day activities. Funding levels and scholarship distribution are reviewed annually in collaboration with school administration.

Annual Funding Structure:
• $10,000 for school business programming
• $5,000 for student scholarships (amounts and distribution determined annually in collaboration with school administration)

Westwood Business Education Initiative

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

Applicants Must:

• Be a current student at Westwood High School
• Demonstrate interest in business, entrepreneurship, or related fields
• Be planning to pursue further education (college, CEGEP, university, or vocational)

Selection Criteria (Weighted Example)

  1. Academic effort and performance

  2. Demonstrated interest in business or entrepreneurship

  3. Community involvement or leadership

  4. Personal motivation and goals

  5. Financial need (where appropriate)

Final weighting may be adjusted by the school in collaboration with the Foundation