ItB次元官网网址檚 not every day you find a handful of high school students who are passionate about business and all that it entails. ItB次元官网网址檚 even rarer to find a group aiming to use that passion to inspire their peers to succeed.
After attending an event that featured speaker former DragonB次元官网网址檚 Den panelist Brett Wilson, a handful of Belmont students were inspired to learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation.
And so, the Belmont Student Entrepreneur and Innovation Club was born. The purpose of the club is simple: to inspire and empower students to come up with innovative ideas to change their community for the better.
B次元官网网址淲e want to create change in the school through innovation and creativity,B次元官网网址� said club president Aiden Lindal.
He and vice-president Cam McMicken have been spearheading the initiative with late-night phone calls, brainstorming sessions and meetings with school administrators.
B次元官网网址淲e want to raise the (grade point average) of the school,B次元官网网址� Lindal said.
On a scale out of 10, schools are annually ranked based on their provincial exam marks. The boys said Belmont only scored a 4.8, a number they feel doesnB次元官网网址檛 represent the student body at all.
Their plan is to make sure the wealth of intelligence of their peers is measured correctly. As such they want to help schoolmates meet their full potential by making sure the student body is fuelled with proper nutrition.
The Grade 11 duo have hit the ground running and are working towards starting their own caf茅 within the school.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in the midst of finding a supplier,B次元官网网址� said McMicken, noting that the plan is to B次元官网网址済et students involved and fed better.B次元官网网址�
Added Lindal: B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e changing the nutritional aspect of the school.B次元官网网址�
The pair are careful to explain they arenB次元官网网址檛 out to knock BelmontB次元官网网址檚 current food services, but just want to offer more choices so students donB次元官网网址檛 have to leave school to find different food options.
They also looked into offering a free breakfast program for students who need it, but discovered Belmont already has a program in place.
They found that not many students know about it and are focusing on helping to promote that program so no one goes hungry.
Belmont principal Ray Miller supported the idea of a student-run shop and noted that no one will be able to keep these boys down once they get an idea in their heads.
Lindal and McMicken are not just focused on nutrition. Lindal said the caf茅 would be a way for students to learn life skills that they could translate into jobs in the community. The pair formed the idea of the caf茅 as a way to expand studentsB次元官网网址� business skills outside the classroom.
B次元官网网址淵ou learn the fundamentals, but you donB次元官网网址檛 get to apply them,B次元官网网址� McMicken said, adding it was a way for students to get B次元官网网址渋nvolved with local entrepreneurs.B次元官网网址�
The fledgling entrepreneurs have LangfordB次元官网网址檚 mayor in their corner.
B次元官网网址淪tew is a big advocate,B次元官网网址� McMicken said of Mayor Young, who gave him his first job. B次元官网网址淕etting that first job is the hardest.B次元官网网址�
ThatB次元官网网址檚 why they want to get other students, not just Entrepreneur Club members, involved in the caf茅 once it is up and running; so they can B次元官网网址渂e excited to come to school and plan for the next day,B次元官网网址� McMicken said.
The club, which currently has 10 members, surveyed the Belmont student body to see if there was any interest in taking part. The response was positive and students expressed interest in helping the group with its future plans.
The group intends to solicit further feedback, specifically regarding the caf茅, and wants to partner with different classes at Belmont to work on areas such as branding for the initiative.
The club even has its own speaker event planned for Dec. 11 in BelmontB次元官网网址檚 auditorium. Confirmed guests include Qoola frozen yogurt bar founder Warrick Chu and OrganicLives CEO Preet Marwaha and Young, who owns the Alpine Group of Companies.
The main goal of the conference B次元官网网址渋s to get people talking,B次元官网网址� Lindal said. B次元官网网址淪o they can inspire others to create change.B次元官网网址�
With their evident passion and drive, who knows, these boys might just end up on DragonB次元官网网址檚 Den themselves one day in the near future.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
