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Making their pitch

No, they didn't stand to raise millions of dollars for their idea, but West Side students got a lesson in entrepreneurship Wednesday

Photo by Jody Isaackson Wednesday morning, West Side Elementary students in four groups gave presentations on products they developed, researched, designed, developed a market marketing program. They presented their projects to four judges just like on the show “Shark Tank.”

MARSHALL — No jaws or fins on these sharks, just business attire. Four business “sharks” visited West Side Elementary School in Marshall Wednesday morning to judge four fourth-grade group projects, just like the television show, “Shark Tank.”

Bremer Bank employee Cindy Verschaetse, Marshall School District Business Manager Bruce Lamprecht, retired ADM employee Roger Untiedt and Marshall Superintendent Scott Monson viewed television commercials and verbal presentations all designed by the students.

They were to grade the projects as Fully Developed, Partially Developed or Underdeveloped.

“Students had to apply for specific roles on one of four different groups,” library media specialist Kaia Johnson said. Johnson served as project coordinator as she was the one to hear about the “Shark Tank” project from a teacher in South Dakota. Johnson also served as emcee for the Marshall students’ version of “Shark Tank.”

The roles for which the students filled out job applications, saying why they would be good at their choice of job, included advertising, graphic design, sales and product development/engineering, library media assistant Joan Winter said.

The students were given the entire fourth quarter of school to work on their projects and also with high school students from Alex Cleppe’s engineering class to produce 3-D models, Johnson said.

“It’s related to their engineering unit in science and used technology along with public speaking,” Johnson said. “The students used iPads for the engineering and iMovie for the television commercials.”

Teacher Dani Felcyn’s group put together a Desk of Your Dreams with moveable square and rectangle partitions to compartmentalize one’s desk drawer. This appealed to the sharks’ sense of order.

All four sharks liked the presentation, but Monson didn’t think the price of $29.99 was high enough for the quality of the product. The sharks gave it a Partially Developed score. They liked it because of its convenience but suggested that the students need to offer replacement parts as well.

“I’m impressed with your confident presentation,” Untiedt told this group. “Very convincing.”

“Almost Fully Developed,” Verschaetse said.

Desk of Your Dreams was chosen by Lamprecht as his selection for Best Business Idea.

“I like the idea of being organized,” Lamprecht said. “Good spokesmanship. You can go a long way with that product.”

Teacher Jami MacKinnon’s group, with Winter’s assistance, made fruit snacks they named Mack ‘n Yums, after their teacher. The fruit shaped gummies were made from algae instead of the usual gelatin which is made from animal parts, the students said.

The flavors include kiwi, watermelon, strawberry and pineapple, but the group hadn’t decided exactly how many would come in a bag for $3.99. They, too, received a Partially Developed placing.

Sharks were impressed with the slide presentation of the recipes for each of the four flavors.

“Good graphics,” Untiedt said. “You know your target market: Healthy. Good overall development and you acknowledged your sponsor.”

Lamprecht said he appreciated the slogan, “Get the food, get the health.” He also liked their business card and graphics.

“Good variety in eating,” Monson said. “I really like the design in the molds. I think you have good marketing and were creative with the name. You’re doing good things.”

Mack ‘n Yums were chosen as Verschaetse’s selection for Best Business Idea.

Michael Weiss’ group produced an All-in-One Toothbrush that contained toothpaste and floss for easy travel and whiter teeth. The group planned to sell it for $14.37, which they said was the cost of materials.

The “sharks” graded them as Partially Developed, saying it was a creative idea, but they needed to develop it a bit more.

“The price is a little high for a toothbrush,” Verschaetse said.

Untiedt chose the All-In-One Toothbrush as his Best Business Idea selection.

“A lot of teamwork went into it,” he said. “You can get it to market quickly, and it’s something you have to use everyday; that’s a good basis for business. Good job.”

Teacher Bridgette Swanson’s group produced the idea of a two-in-one sports ball. They wanted to combine a soccer ball and a football that would “change your life,” the students said.

When a shark asked what about it would change one’s life, the answer was, “so you don’t have to buy a second ball and waste your money.”

This Partially Developed idea was also called creative by the sharks. Their suggestion to the students was to develop a working model and to offer the item in different sizes to meet the needs of their target markets of toddler through junior high.

“Parents will like it because it promotes activity,” Monson said, “and for the reasonable price of $9.99.”

Lamprecht and Untiedt said they liked the out-of-the-box thinking that went into this product.

“I like the logo, ‘SoFo, make it happen,'” Monson said. “I like the cost savings and creativity. Really nice job on pulling those together.”

Monson chose the SoFo combination ball as his Best Business Idea.

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