The classroom connected to the real world

By HAYDEN SHEPHERD 

BCHS 

The entrepreneurship class at Boyle County High School is not only a course offering but a direct connection to real-world experiences with some of Danville’s most successful business owners. This

course gives business-minded students an opportunity to further their knowledge of starting and running a business in the world today. Currently, the class is taught by business teacher David Christopher each year during the fall semester. However, the program originated on the campus of Centre College where interested area students attended class every Monday throughout the school year. Christopher explained, “The first three years it was off campus at Centre College as an after school activity. And now it is an on-campus class here at Boyle.” The program was created by the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce and known as the “Young Entrepreneurship Academy” where the goal was to encourage young students to become interested in starting their own businesses in the community. Instructors taught students entrepreneurship principles, and then local business leaders, acting as mentors, were invited to engage with students to sharpen their understanding of business practices. Unfortunately, numerous after school conflicts made it increasingly difficult for students to participate. Therefore, a former Boyle administrator suggested the academy become a class at the high school to make it easier for students to get involved. Christopher explains that the class “is now a school program to allow more flexibility”. The uniqueness of Boyle’s version is due to the connection with the chamber and the desire to continue its original program agenda that modeled itself after the popular TV show Shark Tank. Christopher shares, “Entrepreneurship classes are offered throughout the state, but I’m not sure anyone else around us runs the class the same way with having mentors come into the school.” From the moment future entrepreneurs step inside the classroom at the beginning of the school year, students start formulating groups and begin planning for the upcoming task of developing a new business that could potentially be viewed as worthy of investment by the chamber. Students develop all aspects of their company from a simple slogan to a very structured business plan. Ideas start with students thinking of basic problems in their lives and how a new product or service could help fix the problem. The next stage of the class includes developing and planning all of the financial parts of a company with group members. Sam Bischoff, part owner of the future Central Kentucky Deliveries, recalls, “The best part of the class was developing ideas with your group members”. After many months of development and weekly revisions with mentors, the development of the business is complete. The groups then move into the most intense unit of the class, presentations and speeches. Mentors continue to meet with their groups to help fine tune details such as borrowing start-up money, hiring employees, and planning for a solid financial future for their companies. The final exam in this course is very different as well. Students are transported off campus to proudly step on a stage to pitch their companies to a panel of local business owners. The students are evaluated on content, knowledge and presentation skills in hopes of being selected as the business with the highest potential to succeed, which would earn them a $1,000 scholarship prize provided by the chamber. The concepts taught extend far beyond the classroom. Students are provided a real-world experience of running a business while developing a direct connection with local business leaders. This class gives every student an opportunity to become a true entrepreneur, giving insights to a side of the business that is rarely seen by teenagers. These business students will graduate from this class with an edge in the business world that no other class can fulfill. Tucker Vanwinkle, who is also part owner of the future Central Kentucky Deliveries says, “This class was great for me and my classmates. Not only did we have fun, but we also learned so much.” Providing a vital stepping stone, this class is the perfect offering for a student who aspires to own his or her own business in the future. Experience, connections, and memories will not only further a student’s knowledge of business, but will also make a graduate stand out in a competitive business world.

Time well spent: Senior athletes on what they will miss most

By DERRICK WITMER

BCHS 

Athletes love their sports, but they understand how difficult and time consuming those activities can be. Year after year, a long and grueling preseason is filled with challenging conditioning and repetitive technical training. But then excitement fills the air as thoughts of upcoming games and matches keep them motivated to continue working hard. However, by the middle of the season, fatigue and mental stress sets in and the desire of rest and relaxation is quite real. While the thought of being free of sports may creep into the mind during a long season, players continue to persevere, knowing the end of their high school career marks the end of their opportunity to ever play the sport they love. Athletes often become reflective of the years spent perfecting their craft, especially during their senior year. Some will miss the sport itself while others will miss the family bonds they have created throughout the years. Players realize  their years of fun and hard work are moments that will not soon be forgotten. We spoke to several senior athletes who have already finished their high school careers. They shared, their thoughts on what they will miss most about their athletic experiences.

• Will Bramel (football/basketball): “As I got older, I began to realize that sports are more than just the sport itself, especially this year in football. During state week, we visited all the elementary schools and threw a pep rally that the kids really enjoyed. Something as simple as giving them a high five seemed to make a huge impact on the kids. It is cool to be able to affect someone’s life like that just because we play sports.”

• Zack Hodge (football): “I will miss just hanging around all the guys in the locker room throughout the season. The moment I will remember the most is winning the state championship, because we worked so hard all season to accomplish that goal and winning that game made all the hard work worth it.”

• Hagan Wilburn (football): “I will miss spending time with all my brothers and hanging out with them every day of the week.”

• Kagen Jackson (football): “I will miss hanging out with all my friends because basically all of my friends play football. More specifically, I will miss football because this will be one of my last times playing on a team that means as much to me as this one does.”

• Sergio Mercado (soccer): “Sports have changed my life for the better because I have made lifelong friends who I would probably not have met if it wasn’t for sports.”

• Alyson Asbury (cheerleading): “I will miss being escorted back to the high school right after winning regions for my first time. I will also miss the feeling you get when you finally get the tumbling pass or stunt you have been working so hard on. All in all, the atmosphere of being with your teammates four to six days out of the week and the bond I created with them is something that will be greatly missed. I will also miss my coach, Denise Young, pushing me so hard because she knew how much potential I had in cheering.”

• Nik Ruby (soccer): “Soccer has changed my life for the better. It has taught me amazing life lessons and has given me the best high school memories that I’ll never forget.”

• Brittney Kincaid (volleyball): “I will miss playing volleyball with my team. We have made a lot of memories over the years and I have made a lot of close friends because of this sport. I will always remember the feeling after a win and will treasure how far we went this year. I am thankful for all the people I have met, and for the past four years of playing Boyle County Volleyball.”