Kaden Kim, Isaac Muniz, and Ashley Cowell
Young Entrepreneurs
Written By Robin Shepherd
T
he entrepreneurial spirit is alive and
well in our South County schools.
As the 2015-16 school year draws
to a close, a trio of sophomores from Live
Oak High School took time out to speak
with
TODAY about their first brush
with entrepreneurial success.
For Isaac Muniz, Ashley Cowell
and Kaden Kim, the journey began
in November when they signed up
to participate in a 13-week Junior
Achievement program on entrepreneurship.
The idea originated with Armando
Garcia, a local business owner and Rotarian
familiar with the entrepreneurship programs
of Junior Achievement, a national non-
profit organization. Junior Achievement
approached Live Oak Principal Lloyd
Webb, who welcomed the idea. Garcia
spoke with Morgan Hill Rotary members,
gmh
who covered the program’s registration
fee. He also recruited Morgan Hill Mayor
Steve Tate, Jeff Perkins, Dan McCranie,
Peter Anderson and Mario Banuelos to
join him as program advisors.
Feeding the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Armando’s personal story inspired him to
get involved. “I’ve always encouraged kids
to stay in school because I dropped out
before getting my high school diploma.”
Armando said it was his entrepreneurial
spirit that helped him overcome challenges
and go on to run what became one
of America’s fastest-growing Hispanic
businesses of the early 1990s.
“My own experience showed me that
while small business is a big part of the
economy, young people rarely get first-hand
experience with how business works and
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MAY/JUNE 2016
what it takes to succeed. You’ve got to reach
kids early, before they think they have it all
figured out.”
“In this year’s program, our students
started with a blank slate, rolled up their
sleeves, and did everything from organizing,
financing and managing a company to
planning, building and launching a product
on time and within a budget. They also
learned some valuable lessons that will serve
them well in their careers.”
Sophomores Launch a Startup
Students brainstormed ideas and settled on
two product concepts: a slip-on carry case
for smartphones, and a coffee mug with a
writeable surface. Based on estimates for
potential profit margins, they went with the
carry case. But like so many things in life,
their best-laid plans would have to change.
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