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Student entrepreneurs take wares to TREPS program market night

| 02 Mar 2016 | 06:36
    Stephen Matus & Brandon Bakke designed cardboard Google "virtual reality machines" for their TREPS business, which they titled "Is It Real?"
    Stephen Matus & Brandon Bakke designed cardboard Google "virtual reality machines" for their TREPS business, which they titled "Is It Real?"
    Samantha Getzandanner called her TREPS business "Samantha's Bows for A Cure."
    Samantha Getzandanner called her TREPS business "Samantha's Bows for A Cure."
    Mason and Rylee Munier sell decorative letters at their school's TREPS market night.
    Mason and Rylee Munier sell decorative letters at their school's TREPS market night.
    Nick Cortese does business with Nicholas Castorina at their "More S'Mores" store.
    Nick Cortese does business with Nicholas Castorina at their "More S'Mores" store.
    Kelly Groome and Krista Dengler at Helen Morgan Elementary School's first of two TREPS market nights.
    Kelly Groome and Krista Dengler at Helen Morgan Elementary School's first of two TREPS market nights.

BY ROSE SGARLATO
SPARTA — Celebrating its sixth year at Helen Morgan Elementary School, the TREPS young entrepreneurial program culminated last Thursday night with the first of two market nights.

Sponsored by the PTO, TREPS is an after-school program that teaches children how to run a business. Open only to fifth-graders at Helen Morgan, this year’s program included 168 students, who participated in five workshops that addressed many aspects of business, including marketing, sales, and finance.

Either individually or with a partner, students chose a product to develop and sell. From home-crafted to home-baked, a variety of products and businesses were represented at each marketplace.

The first market night on Feb. 23 was postponed to Mar. 1 due to weather. But last Thursday’s market night went off without a hitch, according to fifth-grade teachers and co-coordinators Morgan Bleakley and Philip Cocilovo, who were pleased with the student participation and public support.

“We had a lot of support from the community, which we appreciate. There were smiles all around — everyone was happy,” said Bleakley.

More than 100 student-run businesses are opening their doors over the two market nights. Some of the more fascinating highlights, recalled by Bleakley, included cardboard Google "virtual reality machines" created for cell phone use, called "Is It Real?“ by students Stephen Matus and Brandon Bakke.

A more organic display was on hand with students Remi Coleman and Anthony Lane’s “The Chicken Laid the Breadsticks,” a business selling eggs from chickens raised at home, along with homemade breadsticks.

And Samantha Getzandanner took the charitable approach with “Samantha’s Bows for a Cure,” making hair bows for cheerleaders; 100 percent of her profits were donated to a cancer charity.

Bleakley and Cocilovo were grateful for both the PTO sponsorship and student participation.

"It's such a wonderful opportunity for students to realize some of their untapped potential," said Cocilovo. "They're so proud of themselves on market night, and some enjoy the experience so much that they decide to continue their business after the program is over."

Principal Doug Layman of Helen Morgan also commented.“I am so impressed by our students and their investment in this program. I am proud of their efforts, enthusiasm and determination. This is truly a special night for our students and a wonderful learning opportunity for them," he said.

“All of the businesses bring something to the table," Bleakley added. "We love this program for the kids, because it’s their time to shine."