Lemonade stands filled the lobby of the Concord University Student Center on May 7 as young entrepreneurs hawked their tasty drinks. The 24 Melrose Elementary School third, fourth and fifth graders joined members of Concord’s Entrepreneurship Club for Lemonade Day.
Since 2007, this nationwide initiative has been inspiring and equipping youth for entrepreneurship through the experience of running a lemonade stand. (To learn more visit www.lemonadeday.org)
This is the second year West Virginia has been part of the program according to Matthew Thompson, Lemonade Day statewide director. He said that while National Lemonade Day is officially May 3, groups will participate through July. In West Virginia 3000 individuals representing more than 20 counties will be involved.
“The goal of Lemonade Day is to inspire kids to be entrepreneurs,” Thompson said. The initiative, he said, gives children the “push” that may turn into a career as a business owner.
The two dozen entrepreneurs at work at Concord were divided into six teams. With festive music playing in the background, they sold glass after glass of lemonade to Concord students, faculty and staff from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Purchases were made with play money. Along with selling lemonade, the students prepared and advertised their product.
When asked how business was going and about the event in general, enthusiastic responses included “really fun” and “good!”
“We’ve actually been paid good because of advertising,” one young entrepreneur said.
Another shared a business philosophy: “Set your goals and spend your money wisely.”
Melrose fourth grade teacher Amy Cooper accompanied the young business people. She said they had spent some time in the classroom preparing for Lemonade Day.
“We worked on how to promote a product…what makes them marketable…teamwork,” she said.
Ichrak Keraani, a member of Concord’s Entrepreneurship Club, said she was “impressed” with the students’ abilities. “They have that business mind,” she said.
She said that through Lemonade Day, she and her fellow club members wanted to provide practical experience about operating a business.
“This way we can encourage them to have a business in the future or study business,” she said.
The Entrepreneurship Club is part of Concord’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. Dr. Mohan P. Pokharel, who holds the Shott Chair of Entrepreneurship and is assistant professor of management at Concord, is director.
Pokharel said he was pleased with the Lemonade Day event at Concord. He said it showed the elementary school students that “from a very early stage of their life, they can create, innovate, exchange and make money.”
To learn more about Concord’s Entrepreneurship Initiative visit: http://hub.concord.edu/entrepreneurship
