Student Entrepreneurs ‘Wow’ Langley Community at I.D.E.A. Summit
May 12, 2023
The Langley Events Centre was abuzz with activity this week, as dozens of young entrepreneurs from across the Langely School District showcased their creations for teachers, parents, and other students at the I.D.E.A. Summit.
Rows of booths were set up, with elementary and middle school students selling everything from homemade fidget spinners and hair scrunchies to jewelry, candles and decorative soaps. The students who displayed their work at the event were selected after impressing teachers and staff at entrepreneur fairs in their respective schools earlier this year.
Many District students were bussed to the I.D.E.A. Summit and had a blast checking out the creations of their older counterparts.
“What do I love? It’s the energy. The energy and excitement, not only of the kids who are showcasing their products, but watching the kids come into the building from other schools and kind of going, ‘Wow, this is so cool!” said George Kozlovic, the District’s Director of Instruction.
“You can just hear it, the energy, the excitement, the enthusiasm, and being able to connect with all kinds of different kids.”
In addition to the vendor booths, teams of secondary students were also in attendance to give visitors a sneak peek at their I.D.E.A. X Challenge projects; months ago, teams were given a challenge: to design a better Langley, 50 years into the future. The I.D.E.A. X Challenge will return to the Langley Events Centre for final presentations on May 23.
After a morning spent showcasing their creative projects for prospective customers, the I.D.E.A. Summit concluded in the afternoon with some entrepreneurs presenting their projects to a panel of judges (or I.D.E.A. Mentors), who offered positive feedback, and helped decide the winners. There were a variety of award categories which highlighted best pitches, creativity and innovation.
Grade 8 student Madelyn ‘wowed’ the audience and the I.D.E.A. mentors with her “Air Bee n Bee” project and took home the award for Best Booth Design in the Middle/Secondary level. The Yorkson Creek student’s project involved the creation of a plastic beehive developed by a 3-D printer. The idea behind the product is aimed at helping save the bees, which are known to be a valuable part of the food production cycle. Her neatly designed display featured bright coloured honeycombs.
One of the teams called Talk Tampons ended the day winning two awards for their product, which were biodegradable tampons. The team from D.W. Secondary School won for Most Creative/Innovative Product or IDEA as well as the top prize in the Pitch Challenge. Talk Tampons’ proposed a feminine hygiene product made out of a specific type of wool that decomposes over time, making it is better for the environment and something that won’t impact local plumbing infrastructure. The panel of judges also commented on the altruistic aspect of the “business” which committed to donating part of the proceeds in support of vulnerable women in the community.
The impressive projects left the audiences inspired and ready to think about new ideas for next year.
To read more about the planning of this year’s I.D.E.A. Summit, read here.
To view more photos from the event, see gallery below.