The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

Coles Ferry students get down to business




Coles Ferry Elementary School students Xavier Dowell and Carter McPeak discuss menu items for their business, Dowell’s Desserts. They were among the Coles Ferry EXTEND students who participated in the ‘Ignite the Night’ event where the students displayed their small businesses.XAVIER SMITH

Coles Ferry Elementary School students Xavier Dowell and Carter McPeak discuss menu items for their business, Dowell’s Desserts. They were among the Coles Ferry EXTEND students who participated in the ‘Ignite the Night’ event where the students displayed their small businesses.XAVIER SMITH

Coles Ferry Elementary School EXTEND students transformed into small business owners and showcased their businesses Thursday, Jan. 10 with the schools “Ignite the Night” event.

EXTEND teacher Madison Dunlap said the event showcases businesses created by students over the course of five class periods. Students received input and advice from local business owners and university teachers.

“My main reason for including the community as much as possible was so the students would have real-life buy-in, and so they would understand that what they’re doing matters, and so they would be motivated and excited,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap said the project started with a speaker from the University of Kentucky about how to pitch small businesses, and then representatives from Lebanon businesses 3:Sixteen, Iddy & Oscar’s and Whitt’s Barbecue discussed some struggles and rewards of owning a small business.

The group of third, fourth and fifth-graders also analyzed successful large businesses, such as Amazon, before they created their own businesses.

Some groups had conceptual businesses, while others had physical products, even some for sale, such as desserts, dog and cat treats, lip balms and bath bombs and more.

“I had no idea the students would have such outstanding products and marketing strategies. I’m not really sure what I expected, but they have far exceeded any expectation I had,” Lebanon Special School District Director of Schools Scott Benson said. “I’m really proud of what they’ve done. I know they’ve worked hard.”

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