Young Entrepreneurs on Display at Park Junior High Business Fair

On May 4, a Business Fair was hosted at Park Junior High School in La Grange Park for the fourteenth year. District 102 teachers, staff and students, and family members were invited to browse and purchase items from the student-run businesses including stickers, water bottle accessories, t-shirts, origami, bookmarks, and baked goods with all proceeds being donated to charities. Students raised over $2,600 and the following charities received proceeds from the fair: EHOS Heart Camp, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Edge of Seven.

In preparation for the Business Fair, seventh grade students studied the concept of Utopia through the College of William and Mary Center for Gifted Education unit. Part of the unit was about giving back to the community (or trying to achieve Utopia). Students selected charities, researched and wrote formal argument papers about them, and then gave persuasive presentations to the class urging them to support the charity of their choice. Based on the presentations, students then voted on the charities to support.

Students also studied persuasive advertising techniques by analyzing magazine advertisements, billboards and television commercials. In groups of 3-6 students each, they determined a product to sell at the fair and then were required to submit a business plan including the cost effectiveness of the product, the profit they would make and how they would advertise. Students collaborated on an advertising campaign by developing magazine ads that showcased their products, a business brochure to be displayed at the fair and a television commercial. They also presented their campaigns to the class.

The culminating project was the Business Fair. At the fair, students sold their products they had been advertising and were responsible for making the products outside of school, decorating their space to attract customers and have a theme for their product including decorations, music, etc. Student customers purchased tickets as they entered the gym and a majority of the items sold were between 50 cents and $1.50, although the most expensive items were $5.00. Supervised by Humanities Connections I teacher Osena Kuehnle, participating students learned a valuable lesson in philanthropy and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit.

Photo Caption 1: Abbey Rojo, Sofia Pangan and Lindsey Wilson with their “Kaleidoscope Colors” business that sold bookmarks and watercolor cookies.

Photo Caption 2: Cooper Anderson, Ellie Capraro, Owen Lesher and Jordan Brogdon with their “Cool Cones” snow cones business, which was a top seller of the day.

Photo Caption 3: Andy Elrod, Jake Gripp, Nate Spratford and Emmett Robison with their “Kards 4 Kids” business, which were creations made from playing cards. They also sold dances by the "dinosaur".

Photo Caption 4: Olivia Grefenstette, Ella Lanspeary, Aggie Driscoll and Ella Barnett with their “A.I. Bookmarks and Buggles” business that sold bookmarks and small paperweights.