Middle School Students Put Entrepreneurial Skills to the Test

Sixth-grade students enrolled in the Cape Accelerated Program (CAP) at all three Cape Henlopen School District middle schools are stepping into the role of entrepreneurs as they prepare to present original business concepts during a Shark Tank-style pitch competition this spring.

Over the past several months, students have immersed themselves in the world of business and finance, studying the stock market, analyzing company performance, evaluating corporate values, and exploring what makes businesses successful. Building upon that knowledge, students were challenged to create their own companies from the ground up, developing products, services, branding, and business models designed to address real-world needs and opportunities.

As the culminating activity for the unit, students prepared pitches for investors that were presented to community members who volunteered their time to serve as judges and potential investors. During the presentations, students explained their company’s mission, demonstrated the value of their product or service, and persuaded judges on why their business was worthy of investment. The project was designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, financial literacy, and public speaking skills while providing students with an authentic, real-world learning experience. Local business owners played the role of “Sharks” at each of the schools. At Frederick D. Thomas Middle School sharks included: Mr. Christian Hudson of Hudson Management, Mrs. Jami Jackson, owner of Gingham + Grace clothing boutique, Mr. Jack Berberian, co-founder of ThinkSecureNet™ and the co-founder of the first federally registered Digital Currency MSB in the state of Delaware. At Beacon Middle School, Sharks were Ms. Brittaney Reynolds, owner of Harvest Moon, Maryellen Kiernan, director of community events for Irish Eyes Restaurant, Queon Jackson, owner of Summer J Popsicles, and Katy Ackerman, owner and artist of Lewes Lettering Company. Sharks at Mariner Middle School included: Shaun Tyndall, owner of Inclind Inc., Brett Murphy, operator of Murphy Strategic Advisors, and Brad Travis Jr., a managing partner of Sussex Wealth Partners.

“This project gave students an opportunity to consider the many forms of investment,” said Jenna Burkhart, CAP teacher at Beacon Middle School. “They explored the economic impact of financial investments while also recognizing that time, knowledge and resources are valuable assets that can contribute to growth and success.”

Students worked through each phase of the entrepreneurial process, including market research, company development, branding, and financial planning. The final pitches challenged students to synthesize their learning and communicate their ideas effectively to an audience.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this project was seeing students recognize that innovation can come from anyone,” said Ashley Archer, CAP teacher at Frederick D. Thomas Middle School. “They learned that successful businesses are built on creativity, problem-solving, and understanding the needs of others. Each year we do this the students share how proud they felt after making their pitch. Watching them walk away with greater confidence in their ideas and their ability to speak in front of others is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.”

Community volunteers played an important role in the experience by providing feedback, asking thoughtful questions, and offering students insight into the decision-making process used by investors and business leaders.

“This experience brings classroom learning to life,” said Brian Murphy, CAP teacher at Mariner Middle School. “Students are not only learning about business concepts, but they are also developing confidence, communication skills, and the ability to defend their ideas, all skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.”

The Shark Tank-style presentations highlighted the CAP programs commitment to providing rigorous, engaging learning opportunities that challenge students to think critically, solve complex problems, and connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.

Cape Henlopen School District extends its appreciation to the community members who have volunteered to participate in the event and support the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.