6 Manistique Students Battle in 'Pitch It' Competition

Manistique, Mich. (WLUC) -- Future young business leaders might emerge from Manistique. During an event on Tuesday evening, six students took part in the 'Pitch It' challenge.

Starting from January, the students embarked on crafting business proposals, involving the collection of market information and the development of promotional content. During a session held on Tuesday, each team was granted five minutes to present their concepts before an evaluation board—a concept for opening a gaming café particularly captivated both the judges and spectators alike.

I simply created the gaming café to provide an opportunity for those who miss out on having fun because they don't have access to the latest consoles like their peers do," explained Cooper Castellano, an eighth-grader from Manistique. "Some children have all the newest gadgets and get to enjoy everything, but others aren't able to experience these joys.

A fellow student's concept of combining a cat café with a bookstore has been her aspiration for many years. She has already chosen a venue and identified her ideal clientele.

"My concept involves opening a combined cat café and bookstore located in Marquette, specifically on Third Street. Given that students at Northern Michigan University aren't allowed to keep pets in their dormitories, my target audience will primarily consist of these young adults who would love to spend time around felines. Customers can relax among the cats while enjoying reading materials. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with the nearby animal shelter and set up an adoption corner where visitors can consider adopting one of the cats," explained Leslie Connin, a sophomore from Manistique.

The Limestone Federal Credit Union teamed up with the Schoolcraft County 4-H Program for this initiative. According to the credit union’s education coordinator, it’s enjoyable to see the students' concepts develop over time.

"It's enjoyable seeing the children walk in without any clue about what they're about to do. They aren't aware of whether it will be challenging or frightening. However, observing their interactions as they discuss and generate ideas is fascinating. I must wait for the right time to take a step back so they can freely share their dreams and thoughts," explained Jill Connin, who serves as the education coordinator at Limestone Federal Credit Union.

This year, both first prize and the people’s choice award were bestowed upon sophomore Lilly Knaffla for her art business, By Lily & Nature. She received a cash reward of $250.

The second prize was awarded to Leslie Connin for her Toe Beans Cat Cafe and Bookstore.

The third-place award was given to Copper Castellano for his gaming café.

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