This past summer, 1,807 students from across Pennsylvania attended Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW), building skills, confidence, and connections that will last well beyond the week. Western Wayne students Emaan Tanveer, senior, and Maha Tanveer, junior, will serve as student ambassadors this school year and participated in the summer program.
PFEW graduates like the Tanveers are continuing their leadership journey by sharing their experiences, inspiring fellow students, and helping introduce others to this life-changing opportunity. As Student Ambassadors, they’ll develop career-ready skills, practice public speaking and outreach, and serve as authentic voices for PFEW in their respective school communities.
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week is an award-winning summer program for current high school students. Through a fast-paced company simulation and collaborative activities, students develop communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that prepare them for life after high school—whether in college, the workforce, or beyond.
Both Tanveer siblings are excited to spread the word and encourage more students to discover PFEW in the future. They greatly enjoyed their experience in the program.
“My experience with the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) program was incredibly valuable and memorable. The program gave me the opportunity to learn more about business, entrepreneurship, teamwork, and leadership while collaborating with other students,” Maha Tanveer, junior, said. “It helped me understand how businesses operate, how important communication and problem-solving are, and how different ideas can come together to achieve a common goal. One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was stepping outside my comfort zone, working with new people, and developing confidence in my abilities. PFEW showed me the importance of being open to new perspectives and taking initiative, and I am grateful to have been part of a program that encourages students to become future leaders.”
Maha is highly involved at Western Wayne in the following activities: Student Council, FBLA, Spanish Club, Cats Club, Literary Magazine, National Honor Society (NHS), and athletics, including wrestling, softball, tennis, and pickleball. She also serves as a Student Ambassador, College Knowledge Foundation (CKF) Ambassador, and PFEW Student Ambassador. Outside of school, she has participated in leadership programs such as HOBY, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), and Founding Forward: Spirit of America.
“These experiences have helped me develop my leadership, communication, teamwork, and public-speaking skills while allowing me to contribute to my school and community,” Maha said.
In addition, some of Maha’s accomplishments include maintaining a 4.0 GPA, earning Honor Roll recognition, being named Student of the Month, and participating in leadership programs such as HOBY, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), and Founding Forward: Spirit of America. She also has earned CPR, First Aid, opioid overdose response, and ladder safety certifications. Additionally, she has completed more than 66 hours of community service through volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, Saint Joseph’s Center, and a memorial race.
“ I am proud of these accomplishments because they reflect my commitment to academics, leadership, service, and personal growth,” Maha said.
Maha’s future goal is to become a cardiac surgeon. Her younger sister, Amal, has had a tremendous influence on this dream because of her medical journey and the strength she demonstrates every day. Being part of her life has helped Maha understand the impact that dedicated medical professionals can have on patients and their families. Maha believes that her work with PFEW will help her with her future plans.
“PFEW has helped prepare me for life after high school by strengthening my communication, teamwork, critical-thinking, and leadership skills. These qualities are important not only in college but also in my future career in medicine,” Maha said. “ As someone who hopes to become a cardiac surgeon, I recognize that success requires more than academic knowledge; it also requires collaboration, adaptability, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions. Through PFEW, I gained a better understanding of how people with different strengths and perspectives can work together toward a common goal. The experience encouraged me to keep challenging myself, exploring new opportunities, and developing the skills I will need to succeed in college and beyond.”
Her sibling Emaan also feels as though she has grown greatly through her experiences with the PFEW program.
“My experience with PFEW was one of the most valuable leadership experiences I have had in high school. The program gave me the opportunity to learn about business, leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurship through hands-on activities and real-world challenges,” Emaan said. “Working with students from different schools pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught me how important communication, collaboration, and adaptability are. I especially enjoyed working as part of a team to solve problems and make decisions while learning from business professionals and other students.”
Like her sister, Emaan is also highly involved in activities and sports at Western Wayne including: Student Council, Spanish Club, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Cats Club, FBLA, International Cultures Club, peer tutoring, boxing, Student Ambassadors, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), Literary Magazine, tennis, and the Yearbook Committee.
“Through these activities, I have had opportunities to develop my leadership skills, participate in community service, explore my interests, and connect with other students,” Emaan said.
In addition, some of Emaan’s accomplishments include graduating from leadership programs including: Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT) and Founding Forward: Spirit of America. Also, she received an Entrepreneurship Award and multiple awards for her artwork, including first-, second-, third-, and fourth-place awards, as well as honorable mentions in various competitions. She has maintained Honor Roll throughout high school and has also been recognized as Student of the Month and received the Butterfly Effect Award. In addition, she has earned certifications in CPR/First Aid, Advanced Child Care, and Opioid Overdose Response/Care.
Emaan’s future plans are to attend college and pursue a career in medicine with the goal of becoming a cardiologist. She wants to combine her passion for science with her desire to help people and make a meaningful difference in their lives. She is also looking forward to shadowing a physician, which will give her the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the medical field and learn more about what it takes to become a doctor. In the future, she wants to become a successful entrepreneur and start a business. She too believes that PFEW has helped her be more ready for her future after Western Wayne.
“PFEW has helped prepare me for life after high school by strengthening my leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Although I plan to pursue medicine rather than business, these skills will be important in any career,” Emaan said. “PFEW taught me how to communicate my ideas confidently, work with people who have different perspectives, take initiative, and approach challenges creatively. It also gave me more confidence in my ability to step into leadership roles and work toward my future goals.”
From left: Emaan Tanveer and Maha Tanveer at PFEW week this past summer.
