YEScarolina reaches Title I Middle School students in an afterschool setting

Thousands of children wait afterschool for their working parents to pick them up. What are these students doing while they wait? Well, ten middle school students at Military Magnet Academy are being taught what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Through the generosity of the Chick-fil-A Foundation, students of Military Magnet participated in the first ever afterschool YEScarolina Biz Camp.

For two hours afterschool, three days a week, for six weeks, students are taught the basic principles of business and free enterprise. Each student completes a full business plan accompanied by a power point presentation. At the culmination of the camp, the top three students present their business idea to a panel of judges for the chance to win seed money in the values of $250, $150, and $100.

Entrepreneurship teacher, Ms. Carolyn Southall explains, “Teaching entrepreneurship allowed the students to think critically while nurturing and developing innate talents and skills. The skills the student learned and put into practice will be with them for years to come.”

Thanks to Chick-fil-A, three students from Military Magnet Academy walked away with money to kick start their business. Third place was given to Alexandria Archie and her graphic design business, Wolf Belladonna.  Second place winner Alona Stoney came up with Alona’s Designer Backpacks that provide customization, comfort, and convenience. Niraj Patel takes home the first place prize for his invention of Slim Cases, protective slim phone cases that come with a GPS tracking device.

These students were not only taught how to be entrepreneurs but how to take charge of their future. Trenton, one of the Chick-fil-A Biz Camp Completers said, “I am so happy that there was a program like this because I know that when I’m older and want to start a business, I will remember the 2015 Chick-fil-A Biz Camp and use what I learned.”