Record 15 Riv-Ell students propose business plans – News from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

A record 15 high school seniors who benefited from the year-long Livuel Entrepreneurship Program presented their business plans on April 25, impressing Ellwood City area leaders and securing funding from donors. He aimed to graduate from Butler County Community College on May 15th with the provided 16-credit workplace certificate.

The 2023-2024 2023-2024 11 Lincoln University and Riverside seniors represent the largest group to pursue a post-secondary qualification in a six-year program that combines academic coursework and practical experience. represent.

Riv-Ell is a collaboration between BC3 and Ellwood City area businesses. Private donations to the BC3 Educational Foundation cover tuition, fees, and books.

Graduates gain a BC3 workplace certificate in entrepreneurship. The program's curriculum prepares students to develop a plan to start or strengthen a business.

The business plan presentation represents Riv-Ell's capstone project and requires a concept, mission statement, logo, research of start-up costs, identification of competitors and target market, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Ideas presented to a crowd of more than 30 people in the Lincoln High School library on April 25 include scented items to assist hunters, food trucks, mobile boutiques, educational applications and a special services funeral home. was included.

Brooke Dougherty, a senior at Riverside High School and a student in the 2023-2024 LiveEl Entrepreneurship Program, speaks with more than 30 people on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in the library at Lincoln High School in Ellwood. Present your business plan to an audience.

“These students do a great job.”

“I have been coming to see the presentations for several years now and the students do a great job,” said Dennis Boariu, past director of the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce and director of the Ellwood City Wolves Club. he said. . “They are not only college ready, they are college attending. I was impressed with their presentation and level of detail.

“And in the end they can defend. There's no hesitation. They know their product. They know what they're selling and answer any questions that may arise after the fact. can do.”

Raymond Santillo is the former executive director of the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce.

He and other audience members included Lincoln's Casey Barnett, Madeline Kerner, Nicholas Franitti, Sidney Gibbons, Aydin Klein, Madison Long, John Lorenc, Alexis MacLean, Claire Noble, Ryan Turner and Taran.・I observed Young et al.'s presentation. and from Riverside's Jax Bender, Brooke Doherty, Brooklyn Gruber, and Sierra Kohler.

“One of the best I've seen”

Riv-Ell students plan their futures in areas such as accounting, business analysis, data analysis, entrepreneurship, fashion merchandising, finance, mathematics, and real estate.

“This group was one of the best I've ever seen,” Santillo said. They really believed in their presentation. You can tell by their conversation. ”

Six Riv-Ell students completed the BC3 Workplace Certificate in Entrepreneurship in 2019, 10 in 2020 and eight in 2023.

James Frank, the university's assistant director of high school programs, said the qualification “demonstrates an ability to understand the business environment and what it takes to be successful.”

“I never expected to learn so much about entrepreneurship, especially since I was still in high school,” Daugherty said.

Jax Bender, a Riverside High School senior and 2023-2024 LiveEl Entrepreneurship Program student, speaks with more than 30 people on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in the library at Lincoln High School in Ellwood. Present your business plan in front of an audience.

“That really sets us apart.”

Riv-Ell, founded in 2018, suspended its activities from fall 2020 to spring 2022 due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection.

A record 563 students will transfer for free or at a reduced cost this spring as part of BC3's College Within the High School opportunity in seven western Pennsylvania counties, Frank said. He said he is trying to get as many BC3 credits as possible.

Amy Pignatore, the university's director of admissions and university registrar, said LiBEL is also the only program that qualifies among BC3's high school programming opportunities.

BC3’s Certificate in Workplace Entrepreneurship is “incredible,” Barnett says. “I think that really sets me apart from other students. They say he may have credits from BC3, but he doesn’t have a certificate. stand out more than anyone else.”

Riv-Ell students take BC3 courses in financial literacy, introduction to entrepreneurship, marketing, public speaking, and business plan writing at Lincoln and Riverside high schools and the Ellwood City Public Library. They will take the BC3 General Psychology course online and also visit business leaders in the Ellwood City area to gain insight.

Riv-Ell facilitator Sarah Rectenwald said, “You can see from the presentations that each student has built a business plan presentation from their own coursework and experiences.”

Front row, from left, Lincoln's Taran Young, Ryan Turner, Nicholas Franitti, and Aydin Klein. Second row, from left, Claire Noble and Casey Barnett of Lincoln. Jax Bender, Brooklyn Gruber and Sierra Kohler of Riverside; Madison Long, Madeline Kerner, Alexis McLean, Sidney Gibbons and John Lorenc of Lincoln; and Brooke Dougherty of Riverside.

Starting in the fall, students will attend Core 3 Group, Elwood City Forge, Elwood Ice, Happy Tails Pet Hotel & Daycare, McElwain Brothers Paint and Collision Center, Patty's Paws, Sidetracks Board Game Club, Smokin Dave's Barbecue, and Zoe's I visited Untangled Hair Studio. , Wendy De Handmade and WXED-FM, Recktenwald said.

Funders of the Riv-Ell program include Air Physical Fitness, Armstrong Group, James Hrabosky, Ellwood City Wolves Club, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Half Pint Kids, May Emma Hoyt Foundation, Hungarian Home, IPSCO Tubulars, Debra McElwain , includes Frank. McElwain, Helen McElwain, the McElwain brothers, Dr. Nick Neupauer and Tammy Neupauer, Richard Painter, Raymond Santillo, Wesbanco Bank.

“It's amazing what they've done for us,” Barnett said. “They are great supporters. I hope that one day I can give back what they have given us and support the community the same way they have.”

Lorenz, who plans to enroll at BC3 in the fall to study business, added: …

“These presentations showed that their money was well spent. Obtaining the BC3 certificate means everything to me. It shows me that I have confidence and that I can do it, It showed that I had earned it through hard work.”

Santillo agreed.

“It's money well spent,” he said. “15 kids will get 16 credits for free. That's one-eighth of their college experience. This is a great partnership with BC3.”

Barnett, Koller, Lorenc, and Noble are 17 years old. Riv-Ell's remaining classmates are his 18-year-olds.

Bender, Dougherty, Gibbons, Long, Turner and Young also volunteered to paint faces and judge and participate in the Trashon show during Lawrence County Earth Day on April 20 at Ewing Park in Ellwood. Served the Ellwood City community.