Lake George High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter is taking their skills beyond their own classroom and into the elementary school, igniting a passion for entrepreneurship in the next generation. Under the guidance of their teachers, who challenged them to develop a project that would enhance their FBLA abilities, these high school students created “Money Making Mania,” an engaging financial workshop for fourth graders.
The program, designed like a mini “Shark Tank,” provides hands-on experience in business development. After school, the elementary students are encouraged to brainstorm and generate ideas for a unique business. The high school FBLA members, acting as mentors, pose questions, offer valuable resources, and guide the younger students, bringing their ideas to life.
“We wanted to create a fun and interactive way for the elementary students to learn about business and finance,” explained Bella Brown, one of the FBLA students. “It’s been amazing to see their creativity and enthusiasm.”
The culmination of the workshop is a thrilling pitch session. Each elementary student, individually or in a group, delivers a concise 30-second pitch outlining their business concept to the high school judges. The FBLA students, including Aazrum Tarar, Bella Brown, Chloe Popa, Rachael Evanek, Sarah Evanek, Eva Kelly, Evva Congel, Maria O’Connor, and Ava Gangsaa, will evaluate the pitches based on creativity, feasibility, and presentation.
“This is not just about teaching them about money,” said Eva Kelly. “It’s about encouraging their problem-solving skills and having them think outside the box.”
The “Money Making Mania” program aims to achieve several goals to introduce young students to the world of business and encourage them to explore their entrepreneurial potential. High school students hope to enhance their creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills through the process of developing and pitching a business idea and raise awareness about FBLA and its benefits. This will potentially inspire the elementary students to consider joining the organization and exploring entrepreneurial classes when they reach high school.
“It has been rewarding to see the impact this program has had on the elementary students,” said Chloe Popa. “They’re so interested and excited about their ideas.”
The Lake George FBLA students are not only sharing valuable knowledge but are also serving as role models, demonstrating the power of initiative, teamwork, and leadership. By creating “Money Making Mania,” they’re investing in the future and nurturing the next generation of business leaders.