Winamac Students Learn Business Lessons in Competition

Left to right: Brandon Burgess, teacher; Zachary Shidler, first runner-up; Adam Sommers, winner; Nathan P. Origer, PCCDC/ED
Left to right: Brandon Burgess, teacher; Zachary Shidler, first runner-up; Adam Sommers, winner; Nathan P. Origer, PCCDC/ED

Six students recently participated in the Pulaski County Economic Development’s Young Entrepreneur Initiative.

The Pulaski County Economic Development, along with the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce coordinated a student business plan competition in a business management class at Winamac Community High School this spring.

The Economic Development’s objectives for this competition were to provide real-life lessons in business without students leaving their own community. The students learned the efforts required to make a business successful.

Adam Sommers won the competition with an idea for a food-truck business that would provide a new lunch option to industrial-park employees. Sommers received a Pulaski County Chamber check, as well as Zachary Shidler who was the runner-up. Shidler produced an idea of bringing back a bowling alley to Winamac. Austen Brown, Nicole Heims, Kristen Maroney and Kenny Stamper provided unique ideas as well and received prepaid Master Cards for their participation.

It is anticipated that the program will continue this coming school year and expand to a class at the West Central School Corporation.