Two District Five Students Earn Prizes at State Business Plan Competition
June 25, 2014
IRMO, SC – Two students from Lexington-Richland School District Five were named finalists in a recent statewide business plan competition.
Spring Hill High School students Darienne Jackson and Cassidy Mattingly earned $350 each for their plans during the YEScarolina Business Plan Competition in Charleston on June 18. Fifteen high school students statewide competed in the event aimed at encouraging student entrepreneurs to write and develop plans for launching projects and starting businesses. The contest offered $3,000 to the first place winner and an opportunity to compete at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) National Challenge in Silicon Valley in October.
“We are so proud of Darienne and Cassidy for representing Spring Hill High School and District Five. Both of the students did an awesome job and were very professional in their presentations,” said Norma Brown, a business education instructor at Spring Hill High and 2012-2013 SC YEScarolina Entrepreneurial Teacher of the Year.
Jackson’s business plan for a specialty cupcake and cake-making business caught the attention of the judges with its links to community service and charity. Operated out of the family’s home, Darienne’s Delights offers seasonal and themed cupcakes with some proceeds going to civic organizations and causes like breast cancer awareness. Jackson said the statewide competition was a great experience and gave her ideas for improving her business plan.
“I was actually really excited to hear the ideas of other students my age. They were so ambitious and gave me ideas for how I can improve my plan,” said Jackson, who placed first in Spring Hill High’s business plan competition. “I am working out of my home now, but I want to eventually have my own store … I will use the $350 prize to hire a firm to help me with my logo and get the word out about my business.”
Mattingly’s business plan for Cassie’s featured details about the clothing boutique for small and tall women. She said the business plan competition helped reinforce classroom lessons.
“It’s one thing to sit in a classroom and learn something but it’s a lot different when you have to put what you learn into practice,” said Mattingly, who will use the prize to save for college or towards a possible internship. “Creating the business plan was hard, especially with all the numbers involved. But I loved the experience and learned a lot to make my business better.”
YEScarolina officials say they have provided entrepreneurship training to more than 700 teachers statewide over the past decade, prompting more than 14,000 student business plans. This is the third year of the statewide contest, which is sponsored by the Motley Rice & Mark Motley Foundation.
Spring Hill High School opened in August 2013, offering an all-academic magnet high school to any student living in the district. Students at Spring Hill High focus on honing 21st century skills, enrolling in one of five programs or academies: an Entrepreneurial Academy, an Engineering Academy, an Entertainment Academy, an Environmental Studies Academy or an Exercise Science Academy.
“Our students from Spring Hill High School walked away with valuable lessons about starting their own businesses and making business plans. We’re thrilled with this year’s results and are already making plans for next year,” Brown said.
