Granite Technical Institute senior Eden Rychert is in the process of launching her own business. Over the winter break, she prepared to pitch her idea at the school’s “Shark Tank” event, alongside her classmates.

Judges will assess the student businesses and award seed money from funds raised through the class’s Breakfast with Santa event.

“We were interested in bringing joy to families and creating a lasting event where people could make memories, and, little kids could come and have fun,” she said, adding a silent auction was held in conjunction with the breakfast. 

The students organized the event as a business, with each of the 22 classmates taking on a specific role. Rychert was responsible for marketing the breakfast, and on the day of the event, she became known as the “sprinkle lady.”

“I went around with a big tray of sprinkles and whipping cream and ask all the kids if they wanted extra whipped cream or sprinkles on their hot chocolate; they really liked that,” she said, saying the class sold 170 tickets for each of the two sessions.

This experience is part of GTI’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities, or CEO, program, which was introduced three years ago by program facilitator Erin Paulsen. The national initiative offers students a chance to become entrepreneurs through partnerships with local businesses and are paired with mentors. Students take part in company tours, listen to guest speakers, plan events, and earn six college credit hours.

The students, all of whom applied from area high schools last spring, began planning the breakfast in September.

“We run it as a business so it’s an opportunity to organize an event and get that business experience,” she said. “We’re able to apply what we’re learning.”

One piece of advice Rychert learned from a program mentor is to “bless, not impress.”

“What it means is when you’re talking to customers or for us, breakfast patrons, make sure you’re turning the conversation back to them, ask engaging questions and provide that customer service. We know the parents, grandparents or whoever brought the kids for them to have a good time, so we went out of our way to provide that for them,” she said.

Rychert, who attends Skyline High, is interested in a career in business and as an entrepreneur.

“I wanted to learn if being an entrepreneur was something I want to do in my life. I figured this was the best place to start. We’re given so many opportunities in this class, like having a mentor and going on site tours and having guest speakers on top of starting your own personal business and the class business,” she said.

For her pitch at the class’s “Shark Tank” event, Rychert decided to present her idea for a bracelet kit business, although she initially worried about competing with established companies in the market.

“My mentor gave me good advice. He said, ‘the riches are in the niches,’ meaning if you try and cater to every person, you’re not going to be successful. If you find a specific niche, that will make the difference,” she said.

Rychert’s inspiration came from a time when her aunt was in the hospital and there wasn’t much for her to do.

“I decided to target the bracelet kits for kids and teens in the hospital (which they can purchase in the hospital gift shop) so while they’re sitting in their hospital beds likely bored, they can have a bracelet kit with string and beads they can be making,” she said. “I’d include a QR code which will lead to a YouTube channel to see samples and directions. I’m working on a business plan for it.”

The students will showcase their businesses at a trade show. In the past, it has been in early May at Trolley Square. 

Over the past two years, GTI students have competed in the national CEO pitch contest. Last year, five students made it to the national finals. In the program’s inaugural year, GTI students took first place, third and honorable mention.

Rychert, who serves as a GTI ambassador, competes in DECA business competitions and takes Advanced Placement and concurrent enrollment courses, plans to continue her business after graduation to help fund her college education.

“The class has given me a lot of opportunities which I would have never gotten in high school,” she said. “It has taught me how to take accountability, like if you do something and maybe you mess up, it doesn’t only affect you. It affects the whole class, especially our class business. There are lessons I’ve learned that aren’t necessarily part of the curriculum, but will be ones I can use my whole life.”λ