Buck stops at BYU for young vendors

PROVO — The warm weather and sunny skies provided the perfect day for a bunch of sixth-graders trying to make a buck.

These ambitious kids scampered around Brigham Young University Friday, seeking paying customers for shoe shines, ice cream sandwiches and turns at a karaoke machine.

They worked the crowd so hard you would have thought Donald Trump would appear at the end of the day, barking out "You're fired!" to one of of them in a boardroom.

To be sure, the work won't be featured on "The Apprentice," but the aim was the same: Learn business lessons — and make money while you're at it.

Sixth-graders from Timpanogos Elementary competed Friday in a mini-business fair sponsored by BYU's Marriott School of Management.

Fifteen teams of four to six students worked all year with volunteer mentors from the BYU business school to learn the basics of business and personal finance, as well as explore other opportunities available on campus.

"We've learned to do correct business," 12-year-old Jessica Montgomery said. "We had a group of girls, and we all like to paint our nails so we decided to paint people's nails for $2."

Each week, the class of 65 students was bused to BYU for one-on-one mentoring, homework help, museum visits and presentations by student athletes and performers.

"We've been teaching them about keeping inventory, marketing and profits," said BYU business student Scott Livengood. "It's important these kids know that they can become a business leader and that we give them the opportunity to meet people who can be positive role models."

The mentoring program was started three years ago to introduce students to college life.

"It's been a wonderful opportunity for each of the kids to have," said their teacher, Jamie Beck. "It's been wonderful to watch the kids blossom and see the things they can achieve. We try and encourage the mentors to talk to the kids about how hard and important it will be to go to college."

All of the money raised at the mini-business fair will be used for the sixth-grade field trip budget. Last year, the students were able to raise $220.

"We'll top that number," project coordinator Kyle Loosli said. "They love this—they're great salesmen."

Loosli said it is important to raise awareness of college, business and finance among elementary-age children so the level of "financial literacy" in Utah can improve.