June 15, 2005

Students show entrepreneurial spirit

Goodwill Industries' Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies recongizes business ventures

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       Look out world, NJSD Scrapbooking is open for business.
      The brainchild of two students at Traverse City High School, Stephanie Cupchack, a junior, and Nichole Clouse, who just graduated, the business began thanks to Goodwill Industries' Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies. The program, which started last fall, has nurtured and trained around 100 students in the basics of dreaming up, funding, marketing and implementing a small business idea. Class sites included the school, TBA and Goodwill's main office.
      As for the duo at NJSD Scrapbooking, the guidance they received from Academy instructors gave their idea a needed boost into reality.
      "We would not have gotten this far without the class," Clouse said. "We would never have made our business cards and it definitely helped us organize our business plan and money."
      The pair were two of eight students recognized Wednesday at the Traverse City High School with a certificate in Small Business Development and Management. Clouse was also recognized as the most dedicated student in the Traverse City High School's Entrepreneurial Studies class. In addition, three students were recognized for outstanding business plans, including a two students who plan to start a deck-building business together and another who is starting a mobile pet-grooming business.
      "We're very proud of all of you," said Marcia Wittig, director of workforce development for Goodwill Industries.
      Sarah Depue, a tenth-grade student, received the Entrepreneur of the Year award for the home cleaning business she plans to begin this summer. Jim Burke, the entrepreneurship instructor for Goodwill Industries, also acknowledged Depue for having a second idea on tap: a lunchtime delivery service for downtown businesses.
      "The winner is by far the most energetic about her businesses," Burke noted. "She went out of her way inside and outside of class to get pricing information."
      Traverse City High School business teacher Lisa Essenberg accepted the award on behalf of Depue, who could not attend the ceremony.
      "She's a very mature sophomore and is very interested in the business field," said Essenberg, adding about all the participants: "I think that this class has made starting a business a reality rather than something out of reach."
      The Academy of Entrepreneurial targets at-risk youth ages 16-25 and helps them learn to create successful small businesses. Last year, Rotary Charities helped get the academy going with a $36,000 grant. The Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, Third Level, Northwestern Michigan College and Northwest Michigan Works! are some of the other partners in the project.
      Offering the Academy to the disadvantaged, disabled or disenfranchised students is a good match as their character traits often dovetail with those of successful entrepreneurs. These non-traditional learners are already risk takers, independent thinkers, able to adapt to change and leaders.
      "It's a program that the kids seem to like and I don't know if, with kids with barriers, there are a lot of programs that speak to them," Wittig said.
      While being an entrepreneur appeals to Clouse, a single mother, she has bigger dreams of being a teacher. The scrapbooking business, which will include selling supplies as well as making scrapbooks for others, is a way to share her talents and earn some money while completing her professional training.
      "I will totally do the scrapbooking on the side," Clouse said. "I have a daughter and I scrapbooked her first year and totally got hooked on it."