Middle and high school students presented business plans to a panel of judges this week as part of the Matanoia CDF Freedom School program. These budding entrepreneurs, who live in the Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood, offered plans for business ranging from hair styling and dog grooming to lawn mowing and clothing design. 

Their program, conducted through a partnership with YEScarolina, was full of summer afternoons learning financial literacy, marketing, and business methods. The final task for these young businesspersons was to present their plans to a panel. The judges, pictured below from left to right, were: Bill Baker, a retired Kiawah businessman, Charles Larsen, retired investment broker; Benjamin Brockington, former school principal and college professor; Cindy Cartmell, VP of Human Resources or Meadwestvaco; Paul Meeks, business writer for the Charleston Mercury; and Keon Rhodan, owner of several Subway franchises, is not pictured.

Much like the new reality show "Shark Tank" on ABC or "American Inventor," judges posed questions and offered commentary following each person's presentation. Although most questions were of a serious nature with supportive comments following (one judge said the student's business cards were better than his), some questions and the student's response drew laughter from the audience. When Aquashia Burden, would-be owner of Cute and Cuddly Animals, was asked what types of animals she would sell, she replied "all animals except snakes!"

Other business included: CCBD by Dashia Drayton, manufacturing clothing for conjoined twins; Washington's Landscaping where DaQuan is already operating a lawn mowing service at just $20 a yard; and two game re-sellers, Game Planet, proposed by Sedrick Johnson, and Tavon Seels' Stars.

Some students described their plans to hire others to help with their businesses while others brought examples of their sale items. Each presenter included a description of the business, its marketing, and how it would contribute back to the community. There, too, were also catchy phrases for the businesses, like Pisces' (proposed by Shatika McCullaugh) "fashion is my passion" to Cleveland Brown's Star Wings' slogan, "If it ain't fryin' it isn't flyin'."

Enlarge pictures by double clicking. (all photos copyrighted MyParkCircle.com; contact us for permission to re-use)