Young Entrepreneurs Make a Business of Food and Games

Hawking ice cream sundaes, soft drinks and other wares, 125 Orange County junior high-aged youths capped a weeklong workshop on how to run a business Friday by applying what they’d learned at an “Entrepreneurial Fair.”

The medieval-flavored mercantile fair at Chapman College in Orange attracted 1,500 customers. Ten mock companies were formed by student entrepreneurs with seed money provided by Chapman’s Enterprise Institute as part of its annual Summer Youth Program. Prizes were awarded in three categories. The “highest net profit” prize was won by Fine Enterprises, headed by Adam Fine of Irvine, which earned $180.

Fine company employees used bullhorns to advertise soft drinks and games of chance. The nine students in the company each received $500 scholarships to Chapman College, engraved plaques and passes to Knott’s Berry Farm.

The “most unique investment” category was dominated by The Number One Sundae Factory, whose aspiring merchants offered intricately constructed ice cream sundaes. Each Sundae Factory employee won engraved trophies and passes to Knott’s Berry Farm.