Budding entrepreneurs taking off
SAMOHI They’re back at it again.
Students in Santa Monica High School’s Project Echo course are getting ready to travel to New York City for the U.S. SAGE competition, where they will try to defend their title as the nation’s most savvy, civic-minded and socially-aware entrepreneurs.
And just like last year, they need help getting over the hump. Students are trying to raise $5,000 for the trip and have until Monday to do it. Team members are out selling chocolate bars and soliciting funds from local businesses, friends and family. So far, they’ve raised just under $900.
Ten students are hoping to travel along with two teachers to the Big Apple on Tuesday.
The investment has proven to be well worth the risk. In 2006, the Project Echo team traveled to Shanghai, China, where they were crowned the world’s best. The victory was a source of pride not only for the students and Samohi, but for the community as a whole.
Students are confident that they can build upon the legacy left by their fellow Vikings and travel to Ukraine this summer for the 2007 SAGE World Cup. “We feel pretty confident about ourselves and what we can accomplish,” said Miles Mason, 17, a senior who is in charge of media and communications for the Project Echo team. “We were a little bit nervous for the state competition because it was our first time competing, but now we’ve realized what we are capable of. We’ve worked really hard preparing, taking our presentations home, working on the weekends, during vacations and after school. We’ll be ready.”
SAGE, which stands for Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship, is an international network that links secondary school student organizations to mentors from local universities and businesses. Its purpose is to advance global entrepreneurship in an ethical and socially-responsible manner.
Project Echo has similar goals in mind. But instead of just learning how to write a business plan, students put their newly acquired knowledge to use by operating their own businesses, such as a cafe on campus, complete with a salad bar and delivery service for busy teachers.
‘A WHOLE NEW CREW’
This year, students conducted a mock gubernatorial race and informed 1,100 students about all of the ballot measures and candidates. An election was held and more than 700 students participated, according to Teri Jones, Project Echo instructor.
Students have been busy working with environmentalists at the Ballona Wetlands, helping restore the natural habitat by removing non-native species of plants. They have also helped raise money to purchase vending machines for students at Virginia Avenue Park’s Teen Center, who will then use proceeds from the sale of snacks to fund programs.
“We have a whole new crew of students and they are doing quite well,”Jones said.“They are very enthusiastic, dedicated and creative.”
Project Echo was founded in 1995, but the ball really didn’t start rolling until a year later, when students opened up a cafe on campus and non profits began donating time and money to the project.
Having worked out a profit-sharing agreement with the school district, students who participate in Project Echo can also earn a scholarship for college from proceeds from the cafe.
Jones said the SAGE competition is an extension of Echo, in that it forces students to use all of the skills they’ve learned during the course as well as those they’ve picked up in other classes, such as how to use proper grammar.
The course has changed many students’ lives, giving them direction and a purpose.
For Mason, it has strengthened his desire to open his own business and has helped him understand what it takes to be successful.
“It takes so much effort to become an entrepreneur,” said Mason, who expects to travel to New York for the first time next week. “You have to know every aspect of it and you have to have a great team around you, that’s for sure. Your team is as only as strong as your weakest link, so everyone has to work together, helping one another in order to have things run smoothly.
“I’m definitely going to open my own business.”
Those interested in lending a helping hand can do so by going to www.www.firstgiving.com/ProjectECHO- SAMOHI, or by calling (310) 395-3204 ext. 176.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 18, 2007. Read the original PDF.