No ‘want-preneurs’ here.
Or, in other words: When life gives you glue in your hair — you make hair gel, in response.
That was point of the across-the-parking-lot pitch Thursday afternoon at the Monongalia Technical Educational Center.
Dwight Overstreet, who teaches career exploration classes at South Middle School — right across the above-mentioned asphalt expanse from MTEC — decided to let a group of his students swim in the shark tank for a while.
As in, “Shark Tank,” the highly rated business-pitch show on TV whereby contestants, armed with ideas and prototypes, jump in before a panel of judges with the expertise (and dollars) to get their ideas to market.
Ideas and prototypes were in abundance from Overstreet’s intrepid seventh-graders, including Taliyah, Sophie, Cadence, Adeline, Amelia and Alessiah.
Camden, M.J., Adam, Lylah, Lucas and Tristen also took their turns in the tank — followed by Brayden, Aria and Briella.
Standing in for the “shark” judges were high school-aged students in Carrie Lacy’s career education class, geared to those thinking about becoming teachers themselves.
You had your above-mentioned hair gel along with a proposal for a line of hooded sweatshirts: silk, with a distinct logo.
Don’t forget the custom designer jewelry, the ultra-packed (though very portable) emergency kits and those arm sleeves boasting depictions of the mascots of your favorite sports teams.
The afternoon was more about the pitch, technically.
Did the teams speak clearly while effectively explaining the benefit (be it entertainment or need) of their product?
Did they maintain eye contact?
Were they able to realistically talk about pricing and distribution?
Overstreet was impressed by the resourcefulness and in-the-moment thinking of his students, he said.
And yes, the hair gel was inspired after the person who turned out to be its creator got glue slathered into her hair for a joke.
“Hey, I’m proud of ’em,” the teacher said. “They’ve got good ideas. And it’s not easy standing up in front of a room like that.”
Will we be ordering some these pitched products, say, 10 years from now?
“I won’t be surprised one bit,” Overstreet replied, smiling.
MTEC could be the motivator, Lacy said.
“We help with digital logos. We can do QR codes. Come back over and see us.”
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