Student-Owned Medical Kit Firm Turns Heads--and a Profit : Arcadia: Program aims to prepare teens for the real world and instill pride.

They sold them on street corners, at carwashes and beauty salons. They peddled them to their friends and family. And now, Arcadia Alternative High School students are turning a profit and some heads in the community with their student-owned company, Medi-Kit.

In December, the youths assembled and sold $4,000 worth of auto aid kits, designed the logo, ordered the supplies, paid expenses and bought shares of stock in the company as part of an innovative program designed to prepare teen-agers for the real world of business.

Sponsored by the Arcadia Rotary Club, the Medi-Kit project was part of a 13-week Junior Achievement program that sought to teach students critical thinking skills, cooperative problem-solving, communication and management strategies.

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“The community thinks we are all screw-ups. This gave us the chance to prove that we are doing something positive,” said Rhiannon Tipps, 17, Medi-Kit’s executive vice president. Of the 47 students at the four-year school, 20 signed up for the project. Many of the students have had academic, behavioral or personal problems that made it difficult for them to fit into a regular high school environment, said Kathy Yoelin, Arcadia Alternative teacher.

“I think they all believe in themselves more,” Yoelin said. “They have a pride that comes with making money, ownership and developing something from start to finish. Plus, they are learning to work together.”

Each student was assigned to an area of business, such as production, sales, human resources and finance. Many students were also given the opportunity to speak before the school board, the City Council and other community organizations. “Being in the program helped me overcome my shyness,” said 17-year-old Camie Morrison, who gave speeches to the school board and the Arcadia Coordinating Council.

“It was a real joy to see them gain self-confidence and to succeed,” said Joe Miller, a Rotary Club member who spearheaded the project. He said the chance to connect with members of the community was rewarding for everyone involved.

“The district is very proud of these students and the success of their project,” wrote Terry Towner, superintendent of Arcadia Unified School District in a letter to the Rotary Club. “The kids were great and achieved much more than their advisers expected.”

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Students sold 500 kits at $8 each. The kits included road flares, latex gloves and first-aid items.

Their net profit after expenses was $403. They each bought two $1 shares of stock in the company and made $7.22 in dividends. Students also earned 10% commission on each kit they sold and were paid 40 cents an hour for the two participation hours required each week. Vice presidents were paid $1.25 an hour and all participants earned 10 units of academic credit. “I learned that money comes hard, but goes very easily,” said Andrea Esquivel, 16, who as vice president of finance learned how to balance a checkbook and pay the company’s bills.