Program Summary
Length: 1 week
Setting: Spring break camp
Ages: 9th-12th graders
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Resource: VentureLab Idea to Pitch
Culminating Event: Pitch event
The Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education Center (Garcia Center) is a community center that provides evidence-based academic programs to at-risk youth, delivers health education classes to underserved populations, offers counseling services, and promotes the arts through community programs that promote creativity, problem solving, and stewardship.
For the second year in a row, VentureLab’s Idea to Pitch program was implemented during a week-long spring break camp for high school students. Garcia Center worked alongside the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Upward Bound (TAMUCC) undergraduate students served as instructors and mentors for the five days.
Garcia Center and TAMUCC’s combined dedication to hosting a fun week for local 9th to 12th graders was incredible!
Student Impact
After the program, 81% of students responded that they are more interested in owning a business, and EVERY student reported being more confident in themselves. The Garcia Center was provided a full report based on the data collected at the end of the program using VentureLab’s survey tools.
Educator Impact
Educators and adults supporting youth are the most entrepreneurial people we know. They empathize, problem-solve, creatively use resources, and adapt to change.
Gina Perez, the program lead at the Garcia Center, exemplified the “Courage“ mindset, saying, “I was nervous because I’m not an entrepreneur. I was going off the instructor’s book, and I would make mistakes in front of the students. I had to embrace failure, and it broke the tension in the room. We created a safe space for everybody to be themselves and to problem solve. It was an amazing program.”
Educators with a Courage mindset are willing to step outside their comfort zones to make great things happen. VentureLab is proud to recognize Gina Perez’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to empowering young innovators.
Unique Program Feature: Partnership with Near Peers
Gina, the Program Lead at the Garcia Center, had a variety of valuable experiences thanks to the partnership between the Garcia Center and TAMUCC. Under Gina’s guidance, six TAMUCC mentors and 29 students embarked on an inspiring entrepreneurial journey during the spring break camp. Through the VentureLab curriculum, the students explored the world of entrepreneurship and practiced their leadership skills, all facilitated by Gina’s dedication and knowledge.
As noted in the TAMUCC annual report, Gina shared, “I have learned crucial skills in classroom management, work with various grade levels, and have the freedom to be creative while teaching; all of which will be invaluable in my own classroom one day.“
The interactions between the younger students and the older student-mentors are commonly referred to as “near peer“ relationships. The Garcia Center saw great success in fostering these near peer connections, which allowed the students to learn from and inspire one another throughout the entrepreneurship program.
Culminating Event
Attendees at the culminating pitch event included the students, their families, the university mentors, and members of the Garcia Center administration.
Esmerelda Teran, the Director of the Garcia Center, reflected on the impressive student presentations: “Every student had an answer to the panelists’ questions, covering details like budget, revenue, competitive market analysis, the prototype development process, and their overall vision. You could see the strengths of these students, and the mentors were beaming with pride behind the scenes, taking photos and cheering them on. It really showed the strong relationships that were built over the course of the week. This program truly brought the entire community together.“
The pitch event provided a platform for the students to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas and skills in front of a supportive audience. The panelists’ questions challenged the students to demonstrate their deep understanding of their business concepts, and the students rose to the occasion, impressing all in attendance. The event was a celebration of the meaningful connections forged and the remarkable growth the students had achieved through the VentureLab program.
They took lots of pics of their program-in-progress and the pitch event, click on the images below to enlarge:
Conclusion
At VentureLab, we are thrilled to support and celebrate the meaningful work that the Garcia Center is doing in Texas.
This partnership is just one example of how, together, we can inspire and equip the next generation of diverse innovators and changemakers.
Do you want similar outcomes for your staff and students?
Schedule an exploratory call with Scott Mann, our Director of Education, or contact us about your needs.
