DALLAS, TX (February 19, 2019) – Brush off your business ideas, Lewisville High School students.
The City of Lewisville, Mary Kay, Inc., and the M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation have announced a unique 10-year partnership with the Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) that will offer a robust entrepreneurship curriculum for 75 Lewisville High School students this year.
The curriculum, based on the nationally-renowned INCubatoredu, will encourage students to develop their own businesses with the help of local professionals. To help steer the young entrepreneurs toward success, Mary Kay business leaders will volunteer to mentor students through simulations, lesson plans and on-going business assessments.
“This is a great opportunity to encourage practical business thinking and innovative product development by the outstanding students of Lewisville High School,” said Mayor Rudy Durham. “We welcome this partnership with LISD, Mary Kay, and the M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation. Together, we can help local students prepare for the highly competitive world they’ll face after high school.”
The course will use lean startup methodology to teach business concepts. The lean methodology favors shortened product development cycles to rapidly discover if a business model is viable using experimentation, iterative product releases and validated learning. Students will learn by using a hands-on approach while business leaders provide coaching. The best part? The course will culminate with students engaging in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch to actual investors for funding.
The curriculum funds were made possible through a grant from the M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation as well as an investment from Mary Kay, Inc.
“Mary Kay has a rich history of encouraging women to follow their dreams by igniting their entrepreneurial spirits,” said Sheryl Adkins-Green, Chief Marketing Officer at Mary Kay. “In 1963, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream company with only $5,000 and a business plan. We’re proud to continue honoring her legacy by investing in local future entrepreneurs who hope to follow in her footsteps.”
“Lewisville High School students will benefit from the partnership with Mary Kay by seeing learning come to life,” Lewisville High School Principal Jeffrey Kajs said. “This opportunity makes the learning tangible for students while providing them real-world experiences. Without Mary Kay, our students would only be able to read, hear or discuss entrepreneurship. With their partnership, the students are able to ‘do.’ In conjunction with the experiences, the mentoring from business leaders will last a lifetime and help shape so many students with their future.”
As part of the agreement between LISD and the City of Lewisville, the program can continue for up to five years, with an option to renew for an additional five years after 2023. The funding will cover the annual dues of the INCubatoredu program as well as the seed money for students to start their businesses.