By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Every great innovation begins with a single idea.
Eighth-grade students in Allison Kail’s Union City Middle School ELA classes recently put on their “thinking caps” for a project that incorporated ideas with actions, projections and salesmanship in search of the “Next Big Thing.”
Modeled from the popular Shark Tank television series, the students took cues from the show to determine types of inventions and presentations to mimic as far as “selling” their ideas and success stories to the general public.
They put their findings and work on display in the UC Civic Auditorium Wednesday, receiving rave reviews from faculty, staff, and several members of the local business community.
Two dozen invention categories ranging from the medical/health community to technology to nutrition and sports/outdoors were part of the presentation – each lasting between three and four minutes.
The team of Aden Disney, Jonan Vallee and Jeremy Rice took first place and received a cash prize for their “Flex Fit” product. “Iron View,” presented by Owen Waggoner, Logan Barker and Adrian Crawford, was judged second, while the team of Cara Hawks and Dylan Cornette was tabbed for third place with “Verdue.”
“My challenge to students was that every great product, business or innovation that has made this world a better place began as a single idea in someone’s mind,” Kail said. “The next big idea may come from someone sitting in one of our classrooms right now.
“It was refreshing to watch them make their ideas come to life.”
After considerable brainstorming, students interviewed many adults and teachers for ideas of things that would make life easier. The majority of the physical project work was done in Kail’s classroom.
Kail not only engaged and encouraged her students but also enlisted owners/employees from more than 20 area businesses to offer guidance and evaluation of the students’ ideas and innovations.
Teachers and educational assistants from both UCMS and Union City High School also aided the student groups with business and presentation advice before the projects were put on public display.
Students were allowed to alter their original ideas after getting community and faculty input and “rough-draft” presentations.
“I was equally proud of the willingness of so many of our faculty and staff and the business community who lent their voices of expertise and experience to our students,” Kail added.
She listed Carter Hooks, Brandy Tanner, Laura Bright, Jennifer Bruff, Crystal Lozier and Laura Ashley Chism for their business guidance to students. Kelsey Arnold, Lindsey Hayslett, Michele Huffstutter, Maria Reedy, Lozier and Chism were lauded for their presentation ideas.