Phil Castle, The Business Times

A group of students discovered for themselves just how challenging it can be to start and operate businesses. Whether that’s planning, marketing or paying taxes. Or, for that matter, persevering.

“You can’t give up. Even when it starts to get a little difficult,” said Kaylee McLaughlin, founder and chief executive officer of the Sarah’s SheShack jewelry manufacturer.

McLaughlin is among the latest eight students who graduated from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Offered by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, the program teaches middle and high school students age 11 to 18 how to launch and operate businesses and social movements. Over the course of 28 weeks, students brainstorm ideas, write business plans, pitch to investors and participate in a trade show displaying their products and services. Students also learn from guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and business mentors.

In addition to McLaughlin, the Class of 2023 included Korbin Henson, Caden Motz, Alivia Nicodemus, Brayden Rooks, Alaina Scripps, Brayden Urlacher and Sienna Wright.

Henson launched KRH Clothing to offer custom t-shirts and hoodies for small businesses.

Motz operates Custom Strings and makes customized ukuleles and guitars.

Nicodemus runs HomeTown Macramé, which makes versatile macramé products that can serve as backpacks, purses and water bottle holders.

Rooks started S’More and More, which sells waffle cones and bowls in various flavors.

Scripps oversees Alaina’s Studio, which produces do-it-yourself YouTube videos featuring recipes and crafts.

Urlacher operates Mako Manta Ray, which sells button-up t-shirts with various patterns.

Wright runs Tyne Metal Works.

A panel of investors to which the students pitched their businesses selected Nicodemus as a Saunders Scholar. She will represent Grand Junction in a national Young Entrepreneurs Academy competition scheduled for this fall and compete for up to $30,000 in college scholarships and $5,000 in cash awards.

The students said they learned how difficult it is to start businesses and manage the various aspects of their operations — especially to write business plans and account for taxes. But they all said they expect to continue operating their ventures.

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. For more, visit

https://gjchamber.org/young-entrepreneurs-academy-yea.