While many students are forced to seek part-time jobs as a source of income during high school, those in Business Innovations are finding valuable experience in managing and operating their own business models.

Business Innovations, an academy course for tenth graders, focuses on the creation and planning of student ideas, complete with business plans and stockholders to fund the initial investment. According to teacher Kara Mueller, the class is much more than just textbooks and tests.

“(Business Innovations) allows students to learn about business with hands-on applications,” Mueller said. “It’s all real money, and sometimes they lose real money.”

Sophomore Thomas Schrank was involved in the writing of his class’ business, a kiosk that sells tie-dye shirts and sunglasses during lunch in the B1 hallway. Schrank said he appreciates the material he has learned in the class and hopes to apply it in future careers.

“I have learned how to start and run a business, which is really valuable,” Schrank said.

Other businesses this semester include custom phone cases and bagels, with all aspects run by students and overseen by Mueller and Jacob Utities.

Sophomore Laura Renckens said she was surprised by what she learned through the experience.

“Although it’s a small one, It’s a lot more work than I expected to organize an entire business.”

Although not all of the businesses have profited or been as successful as students would have liked, Mueller said the skills students learn during the project can still help them with future career plans.

“They learn whether or not they like different components of business. They may not like the sales part, but maybe they loved handling the finance. They might like costing things, maybe they found out they love the marketing side of it,” Mueller said. “The best part is, they apply everything they know and learn into a real business.”