AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – A student from the University of Massachusetts is being recognized for running a $400,000 painting business in one summer through the Student Painters program.
In a news release sent to NewsNation local affiliate WWLP by Young Entrepreneurs Across America, 23-year-old Josiah Crosier participated in the Student Painters program, gaining hands-on experience in leadership, management, and entrepreneurship, and earning the title of 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year.
“It has been one of the most wild rides of my life. The longest and shortest summer all at once. There’s always so much going on, yet you only have 90 days to do it. It feels like cramming a whole year into just three months.” Crosier said. “My crew is my backbone. Without them, I couldn’t even produce $50,000, let alone $400,000. They have put in serious hours these past few months, making sure job sites stay clean, staying on task, and buying into a bigger vision.”
“What began as a bold idea to connect classroom learning with real-world ownership has grown into a legacy of shaping tomorrow’s leaders,” said Steve Acorn, CEO and Director of Expansion of YEAA. “Over four decades, we have watched students like Josiah leave our program with the confidence to launch companies, lead teams, and innovate in their careers.”
Student Painters is the flagship program of YEAA, which has been empowering college students to become entrepreneurs for nearly 40 years. Since 1987, YEAA has trained more than 3,000 students nationwide, helping them turn classroom learning into real-world business success.
YEAA is commemorating its 40th anniversary by spotlighting student success stories like Crosier’s, who exemplify the organization’s mission of developing the next generation of business leaders.
Josiah Crosier’s achievement with Student Painters exemplifies the success of YEAA’s program in fostering entrepreneurial skills among college students, highlighting the impact of hands-on learning and mentorship. In 2025 alone, YEAA interns collectively generated millions of dollars in revenue, gaining invaluable experience and earning an average of $18,000 over the summer.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.