AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET

ISUALIZE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND

WHAT DO YOU SEE? Someone speaking next to a slideshow presentation featuring line graphs and pie charts? What about a 20-year-old female who started a handcrafted electric guitar company, or a male high school senior who is in the thick of creating a prototype for a shoe designed to replenish electrolytes back into the body? The modern-day entrepreneur encompasses anyone who can identify a problem or need and create a solution.

At St. Vrain’s Innovation Center, students are in the middle of designing prototypes, exploring how to establish LLCs, and pitching ideas to local investors. Through the Entrepreneurial Zone class, students create fluid business plans, conduct marketing SWOT analyses, and complete financial literacy coursework to understand what financing is required from investors to pay themselves and get their startup off the ground.

As an intern in the Entrepreneurial Zone, Skyline senior, AnneJeanette Gonzales, is paid as a district employee to serve as a marketer, event planner, and online systems manager for community outreach, networking, and entrepreneurial events. While enrolled in the course, she is also earning college credit. Participation in programs that combine coursework and real-world experiences are transformational for students. AnneJeanette shared, “The Entrepreneurial Zone has prepared me for my future, because I have been forced to step outside of my comfort zone. When I started high school I was very shy, but now I speak at a lot of events. This program has helped me expand my network and meet industry professionals and other students who have mentored me while I apply for college.”

When the Daniels Fund heard about the fledgling program, they immediately recognized the

uniqueness of the Innovation Center’s approach. In fall 2018, the Daniels Fund provided a significant investment to quickly expand the program’s reach and offerings. “We are excited about supporting the Innovation Center because it not only helps students develop critical entrepreneurial skills, it also gives them the opportunity to work with businesses, gaining experience that can prepare them to launch their careers when they complete school,” said Linda Childears, President & CEO of the Daniels Fund. Like all grant-funded programs in St. Vrain, the program is designed to be selfsustaining without outside support after the grant period ends. THE EARLY GRADES MATTER

Through St. Vrain’s partnership with the Young Americans Center, a local nonprofit focused on financial literacy programming for youth, a program called Young AmeriTowne introduces financial topics to students and culminates with them “running town” for a day. Students receive visits from local community members who represent various career fields, then decide which job they will apply for based on availability. When roles are decided and students run the town for a day, they encounter real-world problems like running out of inventory as a store manager, or receiving a medical are passionate about and create a way to share it. One fifth grade student at Indian Peaks Elementary School visited a local farmers market and decided to bring one to the school as their Genius Hour project. St. Vrain’s Nutrition Services worked with students at Indian Peaks to connect them to local farmers who ultimately donated food to be used. On the evening of the school farmers market, students led everything from sharing their knowledge of farmers markets and seasonal produce availability, to preparing the farmers market stand with fruits and vegetables, to handling all of the transactions.

The students decided to donate their earnings back to the school for field trips and co-curricular activities. Indian Peaks STEM Coordinator, Alexandra Downing, speaks passionately on the success of the project and how the whole community enjoyed learning about the students’ research and experience. “Entrepreneurship is part of student voice. Students get to choose their topic and create something that’s new and share it with the world. The Genius Hour process gives students confidence and character, which instills in them the belief that they can make a difference in the world – whether it’s a simple change to something that’s already been made or a brand new invention, they go through the process of creation and you witness them grow.” bill and having to navigate making payments. Community Schools Coordinator, Susan Zimmerman, emphasizes that the program changes students’ perspectives on money, “I’ve heard students talk about how they can start their own business and share ideas on how they can make their own money.”

Entrepreneurship is about identifying problems and creating solutions. Elementary s c h o o l s a c r o s s S t . V r a i n participate in student-driven Genius Hour projects, where students research a topic they “Entrepreneurship is part of student voice. Students get to choose their topic and create something that’s new and share it with the world.”

ALEXANDRA DOWNING STEM COORDINATOR INDIAN PEAKS ELEMENTARY