What’s the Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge?
The Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge (FELC) is a five-day summer program open to high school students entering the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades held on college campuses around the country. Additionally, we host virtual sessions throughout the year.
FELC will help you unlock the secret to success. You’ll get the opportunity to earn real money, run a business, learn the power of the free enterprise system and the American Dream. It’s not just hard work, you’ll have fun making new friends and living on a college campus.
Our Story
When The Jesse Helms Center was established over 30 years ago in the small town of Wingate, North Carolina, Senator Helms wanted to offer more than just a "dusty old museum." With a focus on young people in mind and a creative idea that developed years prior, former Helms Center President John Dodd founded FELC in 1995 to teach young people about free enterprise and the principles which support it.
Since that time, nearly 13,000 high school students have graduated from FELC, and hundreds more have participated in shorter versions of the program.
This year we are celebrating our 30th anniversary and we appreciate you being a part of our story.
