These days, it seems as though Americans are spending more for college while getting less value in return - a trend research validates, says entrepreneur Matt Stewart.

"The average cost for an in-state public college is $22,261, and a moderate budget for a private college averaged $43,289 for the 2012-2013 academic year; for elite schools, we're talking about three times the cost of your local state school," says Stewart, a spokesperson for College Works Painting, (www.collegeworks.com), which provides practical and life-changing business experience for college students who have shown potential for success. Interns operate their own house-painting business with hands-on guidance from mentors.

Making matters worse, adults in their 30s have 21 percent less net worth than 30-somethings 30 years ago, according to a new Urban Institute report.

"More students are being saddled with long-term debt while getting less value for their education," Stewart says. "Because of the difficulty recent college grads are having finding jobs in today's tough economy; today's students may have even less worth in their 30s than 30-somethings today."

To add value to their professional career, Stewart encourages students to seek outside-the-box avenues for increasing their career stock while in college. Running a business is a great way to do that; he explains why.

• Employers love ambition. A college degree is the minimum qualification employers are seeking. What hiring managers are looking for is that something extra when reviewing a stack of qualified resumes. At the heart of the economy is innovation; it's the difference between simply existing in a market, and thriving in one. Employers know they need people with creativity and gumption for innovation.

• Real-world management of time and money. College is a time when young adults learn to live autonomously. It's the rare student, however, who learns to manage his or her own affairs and the most precious resources in the business world - time and money. Managing employees, driving sales, developing specific skills for a real market and building strong customer relationships are best learned with hands-on experience.

• Learn where they need help. What do you do well and where do you need help? The best way to know with any certainty is through experience. Running a business while attending college allows students to circle back to their education and focus on their trouble areas by adjusting their curriculum in future semester. 

• Develop meaningful bonds. One of the most meaningful aspects of the college experience is the relationships students develop with each other, which often have professional consequences after college. Enlisting the help of fellow students for a common business purpose tends to have a powerful bonding effect.

• Immediate ROI - finding phenomenal success. Most students who run a business during college will not prove to be the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerburg or David Geffen, which is precisely why students should not drop out of college like those pioneers did. However, a student doesn't have to be the next Zuckerburg to experience amazing success as an entrepreneur. College Hunks Moving Junk is just one recent example that began in an entrepreneurial student mind.

About Matt Stewart

Matt Stewart co-founded National Services Group, which operates College Works Painting, SMJJ Investments and Empire Community Construction. Under the executive team's leadership, NSG has grown from a small Southern California business into a national leader in two industries and has been recognized as an entrepreneurial leader by Ernst & Young, the Orange County Business Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur and hundreds of other periodicals. Stewart has received a several awards, including the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award from the Orange County Business Journal; was named "40 under 40;" and he has twice been a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award.

Stops in Mount Pleasant, Marshalltown, Spencer, Pella, Corning and Reinbeck  

(DES MOINES) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced a series of town hall meetings across Iowa about the importance of giving students a great education in science, technology, engineering and math. Reynolds is co-chair of the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Council along with Mary Andringa, Vermeer Corp. CEO. The Council's overarching goal is raising student interest and achievement in STEM and building a stronger STEM workforce pipeline.

The tour this spring will update Iowans on the progress being made by the Council, showcase student STEM presentations and seek feedback from community members about how the Council should set STEM priorities moving forward. Governor Branstad, Mary Andringa and local business leaders will join Reynolds at select town halls.

"Having the opportunity to engage with the students, parents, educators and workforce who are directly impacted by the Council's work is extremely rewarding and eye-opening," explained Reynolds. "These stops around the state will give us a look at the successes and the opportunities for further growth in the future."

"We want to hear feedback on the progress the Governor's STEM Council has made over the past two years, and the priorities we should set as we look ahead," said Andringa. "The STEM town halls are a way to engage communities in conversation about the value of STEM education and STEM economic development."

The public is welcome at the following STEM town hall events:

Thursday, March 6, 2014

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Southeast Region STEM Town Hall

Mount Pleasant Middle School

400 North Adams Street, Mt. Pleasant, IA

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

10 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold North Central Region STEM Town Hall

Fisher Elementary School Media Center

2001 South 4th Street, Marshalltown, IA

Friday, March 14, 2014

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Northwest Region STEM Town Hall

Spencer School District Offices, Conference Room B

23 East 7th Street, Spencer, IA

Monday, May 5, 2014

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and STEM Co-Chair Mary Andringa holds South Central Region STEM Town Hall

Central College, Graham Conference Center

812 University Street, Pella, IA

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and Gov. Branstad hold Southwest STEM Town Hall

Corning High School Auditorium

904 8th Street, Corning, IA

Thursday, May 8, 2014

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Northeast STEM Town Hall

Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School Auditorium

600 Blackhawk Street, Reinbeck, IA

# # # 

About the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council

Established in July 2011 by executive order, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership focused on increasing student interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and promoting STEM economic development. The Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready path, regain our state's historic leadership position in education, and provide a vital competitive economic advantage. The 45-member Council is chaired by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Vermeer Corp. CEO Mary Andringa. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.