A standout Russell County High School student has taken a $2,000 Troy University scholarship during competition in the IDEA Bank’s “Just Start” High School Entrepreneurship Summer Camp.

Diarra King, attending the camp for the second time, continued to refining her idea for Phazers Shoe Company, a shoe brand that features interchangeable patches designed to match every phase of life.

“I participated in this camp for the second time because I wanted to make Phazers a reality and not just a dream,” she said.

King is president of her school’s Future Business Leaders of America club, and has participated in other TROY leadership development programs including the Young Leaders of East Alabama.

The annual camp, sponsored by the Wiregrass Resource Conservation and Development (WRC&D) Council and the Regions Foundation, provides a unique way for high school students to ignite their entrepreneurial spirit and cultivate their ideas into feasible business plans while building confidence and strengthening communication skills through the development of pitch presentations. 

“Wiregrass RC&D is proud to work with the IDEA Bank and sponsor this program that builds invaluable skills for young people. Each year we are energized by the students who compete, and we look forward to seeing how they will shape the future of our region,” said Brooke Ethridge, Wiregrass RC&D Program Manager

Eleven enthusiastic high school students from six different counties were chosen to attend this year’s camp, which included a competitive application process. In addition to King, the selected students included: Ja’Maya Grey (Greenville High School), Yuridia Gonzalez (Ariton High School), Raeghan Worley (Troy, AL), Tyquawn Gray (Greenville High School), Toccara Jones (New Life Christian Academy), Walker Johnson (Northside Methodist Academy), Tyler Williams (Enterprise High School), Ernestina Luna (New Beginning Christian Academy), Daniel Jordan (The Covenant School of Jacksonville, FL), and Jaida Jackson (Charles Henderson High School).

Each student entered the camp with a business idea, and some, such as Worley’s Patriot Shaved Ice in Troy, Gonzalez’sBouquets by Yuri in Ariton, and Grey’s She Spread Truth in Greenville, were already in the operation phase of their businesses. These young entrepreneurs attended the camp seeking to gain a deeper understanding and enhanced opportunity for their entrepreneurial journey.

Throughout the week, the students participated in hands-on workshops, mentorship sessions with Troy University and Sorrell College of Business faculty, and collaborative sessions aimed at developing their business ideas. 

“We developed the curriculum to feature a mix of business education, exposure to local business owners, mentorship from experienced business faculty, and fun activities designed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit and develop essential entrepreneurial skills like problem-solving, adaptability, communication, and creativity,” said Lynne George, Director of Troy University’s IDEA Bank. 

Participants expanded their knowledge on critical topics for entrepreneurs such as target audience discovery, competitive advantages, financial planning, branding, and pitching techniques. They also had the opportunity to visit local businesses such as W Walnut Cookie Co, Fuse Coffee, Studio 7, Rike’s Tacos, and many more where students gained valuable insights into real-world operations and had the opportunity to network with professionals in the local entrepreneurial realm.

“The goal is to help them take their vision one step closer to reality. One of the most fun days is dedicated to marketing, branding, and logo creation, as we bring in graphic designers to help each student create a custom logo, which really brings their vision to life!” said Dr. Charla Brown, Assistant Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the Sorrell College of Business. “We enlist Troy University faculty, local community and business leaders to pour into them, offering workable advice on bringing their product/service to market and sharing how entrepreneurship impacts our community and economy.”

One highlight of the camp included a week-long game designed by Playable Fiction, an educational company that focuses on designing immersive experiences to unlock one’s entrepreneurial mindset. Throughout the week, students worked together to solve a puzzle, obtaining clues and learning the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and adaptability while refining problem-solving skills. 

“The Entrepreneurship Camp and Pitch Competition made me aware of the different aspects of running a business and being different from my competitors,” said Raeghan Worley, a 17-year old from Troy, who launched Patriot Shaved Ice just days before the Entrepreneurship Summer Camp began. “It gave me motivation and confidence to persevere through the risks of starting a small shaved ice business.” 

Worley held her grand opening for Patriot Shaved Ice one week after the camp wrapped up. Patriot Shaved Ice is located inside of Trojan Donuts off of Highway 231 in Troy. 

The Entrepreneurship Summer Camp culminated in an pitch competition, where students presented their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges and King took home the grand prize. 

King’s presentation stood out to judges for her enthusiasm and well-rounded idea. She charmed the audience with pictures of her various “phases of life” and used her parents as an example of her target audience, describing how they had to buy shoes over and over again to match her own phases. She passed around an example of a Phazer’s shoe, to demonstrate the solution. 

King now has a Phazers prototype, business social media pages, and, thanks to the resources provided during the summer camp, a feasible business plan and pitch. 

“Winning first place means my business is becoming a reality!” said King. “I hope to use the skills I learned to continue to pitch Phazer to others.” 

The IDEA Bank is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation through education, mentorship, and resources. Through events like the “JUST START” High School Entrepreneurship Summer Camp, the IDEA Bank inspires and equips the next generation of business leaders.