Entrepreneurial Seniors Lead Roseburg High Student Store to Success

Four seniors at Roseburg High School are making waves beyond the classroom. Cynthia Byrd, Ilias Corbin, Elliot Molina, and Joe Clyde, all part of Steve Patterson’s Advanced Applied Business class, are now the brains behind the successful RHS Student Store. Not only are they showcasing their business skills, but they're also committed to keeping school merch like hoodies and shirts affordable for all students. Ilias Corbin explains, "Our goal for the store is to make things affordable. We don't profit much, but we felt accessibility is really important. What good is merch if nobody can afford it?" Proceeds from sales are reinvested into the store to purchase additional merchandise, and local partnerships with workforce programs enable the students to earn paychecks for their work. Sheri Carson, Career and Technical Education (CTE) division leader at RHS, applauds the students for dedicating 150 to 200 volunteer hours to running the store, a valuable addition to their college applications. The business program at RHS has provided these students with practical skills and knowledge in areas such as accounting, management, marketing, product development, data analysis, research, and entrepreneurship. Impressively, each student has earned 24 college credits through their participation in the program. Business teacher Steve Patterson expresses his admiration for the seniors: "They have shown a great deal of leadership, and due to their efforts, the store hasn't skipped a beat." Cynthia Byrd and Ilias Corbin have also proven their abilities on a larger stage, winning first place at last year's April 2022 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) state conference in the Business Report category. Students involved in business classes at RHS have the opportunity to join FBLA and compete in regional, state, and national events. Roseburg High School's CTE department offers nine job-skill building programs, including automotive, manufacturing, carpentry/woodworking, drafting, hospitality, early childhood education, agriculture, and health occupations, allowing students to explore various fields and trades.