Middle School Entrepreneurs Hold Last Market Day of the School Year

The final Cougar Enterprises Market Day for the school year took place this morning outside Reed-Gumenick Library, where Collegiate Middle School entrepreneurs sold their handmade wares to fellow students.
Seven years ago, Middle School Spanish teacher Debbie Hailes began Cougar Enterprises, the Collegiate entrepreneurial club designed to teach interested 5th-8th Grade students more about business using a hands-on approach.

The club, which began with seven students, now boasts more than 60 members. Over the years, club members have heard from industry professionals about various aspects of starting and running a business, taken field trips to see entrepreneurial economic principles in action and planned a Market Day four times each year.

In addition to the nuts and bolts of business, Mrs. Hailes says the club has taught students good life lessons.

“Students learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur,” she said. “That you need passion and true grit. You need to be a risk taker and be willing to fail and get over it.”

Mrs. Hailes, who leads the club along with Middle School math teacher Chris Conquest, will step down from her role at the end of this year. We thank her for her years of service!
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