The best entrepreneurs create businesses where others don?t see opportunity.
Six such budding entrepreneurs at Digital Harbor High School in south Baltimore found a large, crowded school storage closet earlier this year and dreamt of developing a student-run bookstore.
Friday morning, after six months of cleaning, painting, spreadsheet work and PowerPoint presentations, they officially flicked on the neon “Open” sign and cut the ribbon.
U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D, city schools CEO Bonnie S. Copeland, M & T Bank President Woody Collins and teacher-mentors Vicki Wolverton and Kathleen Baker stood by and applauded their efforts.
“I?m immensely proud of these students,” said Wolverton, who teaches Spanish, art and economics at the school and meets with the entrepreneurs group after class on Mondays, “especially because they?ve come out of their shell. They sat in front of the M & T loan board, spoke up, made their proposal and responded to questions with viable answers. That?s a scenario that would?ve intimidated a lot of adults. They?ve blossomed on this project.”
Juniors Erin Scofield and Sara Stafford, and seniors Tavone Mills, Darrien Griffin, Shaneel Stokes and Jasmine Harris participated on the student loan committee and won approval for a $5,000 start-up loan.
“This wasn?t giving money away,” said Collins, who sat on the loan board that approved the students? application. “They had to put together a formal business plan. They worked together, divided up responsibilities and came with a sound proposal. Their energy impressed me.”
The new bookstore, the first of its kind in a Baltimore City school, will open every day from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and after school from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. and will open on certain night and weekends for special events.
Inventory runs from student clothing and supplies, to juice and snacks.
Students employees do not get paid, but earn community learning hours.
“I?ve gotten experience I wouldn?t have received anywhere else,” Stafford said. “I?m starting my own inspirational poster business and I?m hoping to sell them in the bookstore and at other stores in the area. This is going to help me a lot.”
