FALL RIVER: Students at Lockview High in Fall River are getting some hands-on experience in what it’s like to run a business.
About 25 students participate in the schools Junior Achievement club, and they have recently started selling environmentally-friendly hoodies. 10 per cent of their profit goes towards Cystic Fibrosis research.
The hoodies, with a design on the front designed by group member Julia MacDonald of Grand Lake, won Animo Company—the name of their business—the 2017 Junior Achievement “Pitch It!” People’s Choice Award.
Grade 12 student Molly Mepham spoke on behalf of the group during an interview at Lockview High on the morning of Dec. 15. She joined the Junior Achievement club last year, stepping out of her comfort zone and meeting new people.
“It’s a great opportunity for people interested in business,” said Mepham about why she joined the club. “It allows you to learn so much about real-life situations and handle money and things like that.”
She said the award was exciting.
“It was really great that we won it,” she said. “It’s nice that people liked our idea and the logo we have.”
The logo is a circle with a blue background and a mountain inside it. MacDonald, in Grade 10, designed it, and the group really liked it, said Mephan.
The club was planning to setup and sell some of the hoodies during lunch break on Dec. 15.
“We’re hoping to sell where-ever we can,” she said. “We’re looking at getting some more sweaters and also some toques as well.”
Mepham, of Fall River, said they’re getting the sweaters made through a company online, which offers a reasonable price.
She explained what Animo means. It fits in perfectly with positivity and is a great message.
“Animo is Latin for Courage, but we’ve learned that it means more since we’ve been at trade fairs like the one at the Halifax Seaport Market,” she said. “It also means Soul in Italian; Cheerful in Spanish; and Minds in English.
“It’s all positive vibes.”
The hoodies are available from club members at Lockview, or you can contact them through their Instagram page, which can be found at Animo Company NS.
