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From Concept to Customers: CTC’s Annual Entrepreneurship Fair

From Concept to Customers: CTC’s Annual Entrepreneurship Fair
From Concept to Customers: CTC’s Annual Entrepreneurship Fair
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season was alive and well at Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center’s (CTC) 3rd annual Entrepreneurship Fair. Students in this semester’s Entrepreneurship class watched their semester-long project generate real dollars as other students and staff purchased their products.

Students worked individually or in small groups throughout the semester to bring their business ideas to life. They created a business name, developed their product mix, conducted market research (so. many. surveys), and determined pricing strategies to optimize profits. After that, they pitched their business and products to a panel of investors (school administrators), where they fielded a wide variety of questions and gathered feedback.

This year’s Entrepreneurship Fair was held right before winter break. Students set up shop and sold their products to the students and staff of CTC. Other students get to browse and buy, and CTC staff stop by to support them as well. It’s a real-world, real-money, real-customers kind of experience—and it teaches lessons you can’t get from a textbook.


Learning by Doing

“At CTC, we pride ourselves on the hands-on learning that happens across the entire school, not just the career-tech labs. The Entrepreneurship Fair is a perfect example of real-world learning in a business class. Students are actively engaged in the entire process and the outcome,” shared Michelle Patrick, Superintendent of CTC.

Beyond the basics of incubating a business idea, students experience first-hand the realities that come with running a business. They learn about the cost of goods sold, overhead expenses, inventory, sales, and ultimately how each can impact the bottom line.

Speaking of the bottom line, the business and the class period that ends the day with the highest profit margin is crowned the winner. This year’s top honors were earned by Culinary Without Constraints, powered by student entrepreneurs Haleigh Brown and Samuel Dillon! Their product - a cookbook of the same name - finished the day with the highest profit margin of all products sold. Out of the four participating class periods, 2nd period took top honors as the most profitable period. Student businesses in 2nd period included: Festive Fusion, Jaguar Scents, Jolly Cake Co., Anthony Tipton’s Wooden Crafts, and After Class Clothing Company (names of student entrepreneurs listed below).

"The kids surprise me every year with their creativity and passion. Every item at the fair represents a student’s vision and effort, and it’s amazing to see them take ownership of their ideas and turn them into real business plans. The best part is watching the LRC come alive as a buzzing marketplace on sale day! Profit or not, they learn incredible lessons—and we all have a lot of fun along the way." Michelle Haythe, Business Instructor.
 

Student Businesses, Products, and Entrepreneur List

 
Sticker Bros - Custom lab stickers
  • Jahir Avelar
  • Jayden Dyer
  • Brandon Parker
  • Chris Gonzalez


Homemade Cake & Cake Pops - Baked goods (mini cakes, pudding, cake pops)

  • Miranda Parker
  • Audreyana Scott

Glow Jars - Light up/glow jars

  • Nick Villanueva-Flores


Focus Buddy - Stress balls/balloons

  • Jesse Stambaugh


Delectable Chocolates - Chocolate candies

  • Taylor (Teagan) Schwarz
  • Nicayla Ogle


Festive Fusion - Holiday decorations, air freshener (2nd Period – Most Profitable Class)

  • Thaila Braddy-Crockran
  • Diego Arriaga
  • Hassan Chilton
  • Madison Mitchell


Jaguar Scents - Homemade scented candles (2nd Period – Most Profitable Class)

  • Kiana Statham
  • Dylan Stockdale
  • Sarah Sanders


Jolly Cake Co. - Baked Goods: cheesecake, cookies, popcorn (2nd Period – Most Profitable Class)

  • Madison Davenport
  • Jensen Huffman
  • Kiley George
  • Day'veona Boynton


Anthony Tipton's Wooden Crafts - Coasters, ornaments, jewelry (2nd Period – Most Profitable Class)

  • Anthony Tipton


After Class Clothing Company - CTC hoodies (2nd Period – Most Profitable Class)

  • Brayden Willis
  • Charles Lockhart
  • Brody Johnson
  • Clayric Speakman


Power Squeeze - Stress balls/balloons

  • Jacob Patton
  • Tristen Poe
  • Emilia Mentz

🥇 Culinary Without Constraints - Cookbook - Highest Profit Margin

  • Haleigh Brown
  • Samuel Dillon

JZM Deco Badges - Designer badge holders

  • Jaliyah Jackson
  • Za'phyah Wilson
  • Arhiana (May) Pollard

Sweets and Styles - Charm necklaces, bracelets, lemonade

  • Brady Russell
  • Joseph (Charlie) Grissom
  • Di'ovian Fent
  • Dwyane Smith

The Mist and Sugar Kit - Take and bake cookie kits

  • Takiyah Mustafa

Tuck Tech - 3D Printed Items (fidget toys, keychains, badge holders)

  • Tucker Crose

Felt Dreams & Welded Root - Felt pouches and keychains, Welded flowers and cactus

  • Liliana North
  • Madison Leist

Decal Dreams - Hats, decals, water bottles, stickers, keychains

  • Camden Keeran
  • Savage Armstrong

The Rooted Cup - Tree starter kit

  • Ahsir Gualding

Stress Sacculos - Stress relief kit (bath bombs, wax melts, incense, tea, candles)

  • Donovyn Byrd
  • Kaleb Barnes

Divine Sparks - Welded jewelry (bracelets, rings)

  • Zach Marriott
  • Douglas Payne

Scent Bros - Car air freshner

  • Zach Williams
  • Moel Pettyjohn
  • Elijah (EJ) Garland
  • Camdyn Short