If you enjoy watching the hit CNBC hit show Shark Tank, you would have enjoyed the 5 Minutes Tops event at Lansing Community College on Wednesday, March 4.

“This type of event breaks down the classroom walls helping students develop self-confidence, improve their soft skills and cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit,” said Lucas Schrauben, student services coordinator. Together with the Eaton Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Career and Technical Education Department, the sponsors provided a platform for students to share their aspirations and ideas. 

Students were given few boundaries in order to not limit their creativity. They were required to plan, research, design, test, budget and present their own ideas. For high school students, these tasks could pose a challenge; however, 54 aspiring entrepreneurs submitted ideas to the competition. Local business men and women from various fields narrowed the applicants down to 10 semi-finalists who pitched their idea to a panel of judges. The sponsors gave their time, shared their wisdom and donated $3,000 for the cash awards.

On the live competition day, a room full of spectators came to see which students would win both prize money and a mentor to jump-start their business dream. The night began with a mini-concert from the Grand Ledge Public School women’s choir. Although many of the students were nervous, their excitement and passion for their ideas was obvious. It was a competition, but each one respectfully listened to the other ideas as if they were already trying to figure out how they could improve their plan based on the new information they were learning.

Halfway through the presentations, there was an intermission with snacks and musical entertainment by Taylor Taylor, a young musical entrepreneur from the Lansing area. After the final pitch was presented, the judges huddled to review their notes. When they were ready to announce the winners, they began with the top winner, Joshua Locke who was awarded $565. Joshua, a Charlotte High School Student, presented his a plan to raise and sell chickens “farm-to-table fresh.” He also included an idea for a unique moving pen concept, which would allow him to raise more chickens at a reduced cost.

The prizes continued with all the participants receiving a cash award as follows:

• Re-Carnation by Jadelyn Stewart and Sam Bonney of Maple Valley - $495
• Allergen Free Bakery by Emma Bau of Charlotte - $435
• Drone Scouting by Cameron Langmaack or Charlotte - $330
• A Ray of Sunshine by Allison Piper of Holt - $275
• Garage Groomers by Seven Davis-Western of Grand Ledge - $250
• Hooray! Cupcakes by Brittany Belding of Grand Ledge - $225
• Teenager Employment Agency by Elijah Pickering, Julian Ekert and Scott Jones of Holt - $200
• Booyah Snowboard Company by Connor Horstmanshof, Neal Mulder, Alex Platte, Andy Kreager and Connor Merryfield of Grand Ledge - $125
• Washer-Dryer Basket Combo by Cody Selders of Lakewood - $100.