Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Stephen Carter began working with Grand Rapids Christian Schools in the fall of 2023 after Nick DeKoster and Kevin VanHarn attended the Entrepreneurship Symposium at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Kevin took on the role of entrepreneurship teacher/mentor and worked with a team of seven high school students to start a brand new program that led to the launch of a new business venture on the school’s campus.

Quote from Fletcher, a student in the program:

“In Entrepreneurship this year, I didn't just learn about business; I learned how to turn my ideas into action. I also learned about the resilience needed to navigate challenges that we faced together as a small, focused, and efficient team. I grew very close with my teacher and team, which led to a feeling of family and comfort in the class in which I could confidently share my ideas and feelings. - Fletcher 

Overview:

This project followed the Seed Tree Group method by starting in the fall with a semester-long deep dive into the four attributes of the entrepreneurial mindset including growth mindset, grit, redefining failure, and opportunity seeking. Using a project-based learning approach, the students applied these attributes to the four stages of starting a business: ideation, creation, launch, and growth and in November, they launched their on-campus vending machine business and worked collaboratively to grow the business over the second half of the school year. Kevin VanHarn, entrepreneurship program director, said this of the experience:

“Working with Stephen was invaluable to getting our Entrepreneurship program up and running. With his experience and guidance, we were able to navigate potential pitfalls and put our program on track for authentic learning for our students. His coaching was critical in developing strong teaching practices to infuse the experience with intentional reflection towards fostering wisdom for all.”  

Quote from Gracie, a student in the program

“This class was a unique opportunity that not only provided me with hands-on experience within a business but taught me how to take risks and think outside of the box. My classmates and I all shared a passion for the business and through challenges and successes we all developed strong supportive relationships with each other. I had a very positive experience in the class and learned things I wouldn't have been able to learn elsewhere.”