Rainbow District School Board congratulates Entrepreneurship Fair winners

Brooklyn Cashmore of Carl A. Nesbitt Public School showcased her business, Memorable Thoughts, at the Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair on Thursday, June 3, 2010. 

Amy Adair of Churchill Public School placed second in the Business Plan category and third in the Best Product Category for Amy’s Never-Lose-Your-Place Bookmarks at the Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair.  Amy donates $1 from each sale to the Easter Seals Society.

Elizabeth Sweeny of Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, recipient of the Best Presentation Award at the Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair, presented her business, Funny Puppy – Chiot Drôle.

Shawn Falardeau of Churchill Public School showcased his business, Pacorama, which won the Best Business Plan Award at the Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair.

Best Product Award recipients Katie Spry, left, and Jenna Fortunato of Copper Cliff Public School presented their business, J&K Soap Factory, at the Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair.

Serafina Giommi of Copper Cliff Public School introduces Superintendent Lesleigh Dye to her business, Memories of a Lifetime, at the Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair. Serafina Giommi and partner Keiana Clement placed third in the Business Plan category.

For Immediate Release                       
Friday, June 4th, 2010

Rainbow District School Board congratulates Entrepreneurship Fair winners

A number of students from Rainbow Schools captured top honours at the 14th Annual Northern Ontario Visions Project Tradeshow presented by Rainbow District School Board, the Learning Initiative and the Regional Business Centre on Thursday, June 3rd, 2010. Some 45 young entrepreneurs gathered at the Southridge Mall to present and promote their innovative businesses.

Tradeshow participants were vying for a number of awards – Best Business Plan, Best Product, Best Service and Best Presentation.  The young entrepreneurs also voted amongst themselves for who should receive the coveted "Young Entrepreneur Award”. A panel of judges from the business community evaluated the displays. As part of the evaluation, judges looked at how effectively students presented their products and/or services.

And the winners are….

Best Business Plan

1st place – Pacorama
Shawn Falardeau, Churchill Public School

2nd place – Amy’s Never-Lose-Your-Place Bookmarks
Amy Adair, Churchill Public School

3rd place – Memories for a Lifetime
Keiana Clement and Serafina Giommi, Copper Cliff Public School

Best Product

1st place – J&K Soap Factory
Jenna Fortunato and Katie Spry, Copper Cliff Public School

2nd place – Soothingly Smooth Lotions
Dana Bartolucci and Cassandra Mazzuca, MacLeod Public School

3rd place – Amy’s Never-Lose-Your-Place Bookmarks
Amy Adair, Churchill Public School

Best Service

1st place – Curtis’ Cash Cards
Curtis Janveau, Lansdowne Public School

2nd place – i-Pac
David McDonald, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

3rd place – Uniscence
Austin Martin and Sean Grech, Copper Cliff Public School

Best Presentation

1st place – Chiot Drôle – Funny Puppy
Elizabeth Sweeny, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

2nd place – Swishy Fish Bowls
Diya Grover, MacLeod Public School

3rd place – Kool-Aid Purses and Pouches
Allison O’Donnell and Brook Condo, MacLeod Public School

Young Entrepreneur Award

1st place – Swishy Fish Bowl
Diya Grover, MacLeod Public School

2nd place – Soothingly Smooth Lotions
Dana Bartolucci and Cassandra Mazzuca, MacLeod Public School
       
3rd place – Beauty and Books
Shamika Ross, Lansdowne Public School

The businesses showcased were as varied as the students’ imaginations, resulting in a spectacular display of creativity and innovation. "The Northern Ontario Visions Project Tradeshow gave students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be an entrepreneur by creating and running a business," said Ron Hodkinson, Chair of the Visions Committee that organizes the annual event on behalf of Rainbow District School Board.  "Students developed and implemented business plans," he added.  "In the process, they learned all about marketing, including products, pricing, placement and promotion."

The tradeshow is a culminating event for students who have completed entrepreneurship units or participated in school fairs. Participating schools include Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, Copper Cliff Public School, Churchill Public School, Lansdowne Public School, Northeastern Elementary School, and MacLeod Public School.

The tradeshow provides an authentic learning experience for students, bringing the classroom curriculum to life in a dynamic way. Students learn about math through sales taxes, discounts and financial statements. They also create graphs as part of their market research.

From a language perspective, students gain oral and written communications skills by speaking with the public, selling their products and services, creating professional business plans, and developing business cards, websites, brochures and other promotional material. Students also get to hone their artistic skills by creating visually pleasing displays that will attract customers.

Comprised of representatives from business and industry, the Visions Steering Committee was formed in 1996 to develop an entrepreneurship unit for teachers and students in Rainbow Schools.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.