Sixty Center Grove fifth grade students learned to become entrepreneurs through the school’s TREP$ program.

The students met after school once a week for several weeks, coming up with entrepreneurial concepts, then presenting them to teachers, creating everything from bath bombs to Randolph magnets and holiday ornaments to snow globes and bookmarks with bling. The students then sold their creations at the TREP$ Marketplace on February 21.

Hundreds of parents, staff and students came to check out the variety of items created and sold by students at different tables around the school’s gymnasium. Students said they learned what it takes to start and run a business, which many said is a lot of work.

Juliana Kusnier said the whole experience “taught me to use my time wisely,” she said. Juliana and friend Katie Uppal created Cutie Cans. They decorated recycled cans turning them into animals and characters which they sold at the Marketplace.

Ilya Andriano is very artistic and used felt and glue and his talent to create adorable finger puppets.

Marcus Mosquera said he wanted to create something natural, so he used recycled corks to create adorable animals including dogs, cat and mice which were very well received at the marketplace.

Gianna Crisci and Madison Elliott said they wanted to “show their love and support for Randolph” and created Randolph magnets and hanging ornaments.

“The 5th grade TREPS Marketplace was a great success,” said fifth grade teacher Tiffani Armstrong. “Students participated in workshops that focused on product development, pricing, marketing, and selling their product. All students sold out of their product and enjoyed the experience of being an enTREPreneur.” 

A similar program took place at Fernbrook School in December.

TREP$ founder Pamela de Waal also surprised Center Grove by coming out to visit the event. “Congratulations on your wonderfully successful TREP$ Marketplace!” she said. “The young entrepreneurs did such a great job thanks to their dedicated teachers”.