REXBURG—In an attempt to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among high school students, Madison High School recently hosted a “Shark Tank” styled competition where students could pitch their independent businesses for a chance to win a monetary prize.
Jennifer Barzee, a business teacher at Madison High School, helped initiate the event and, feeling inspired by her students, emphasized the importance of encouraging students to explore their entrepreneurial potential.
“I’m always hearing the students’ business ideas, which just energizes me,” Barzee said. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to earn some money, but I was a little worried and hesitant about the stress of it for the students and then hoping that it would just go off well.”
The competition aimed to provide a platform for budding student businesses. Barzee highlighted the pivotal role that was played by the advisory committee as they gathered local business owners and supporters in hopes of better shaping the vision they had for this competition.
The school held many workshops that were led by mentors from the local business community, where students could learn more about their craft, and find guidance and encouragement as well as useful real-world insights on the world of business.
Students pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, including real “Shark Tank” winner Jeremy Carlson. The winners received cash awards that will help further develop their businesses.
“We really pulled this off,” Barzee said. “It’s a dream come true. The United States is all about having a dream and building something. I think it just gives hope to students … students [are] working hard, [have] ideas and [are] taking initiative.”
Looking ahead, Barzee envisions the competition becoming a recurring event for Madison High School. With plans to expand its reach to other schools and increase the prize offerings, she hopes the competition will continue to inspire students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions and contribute positively to their communities.