Business is brewing for Uniontown students
Ed Cope
Student Tyler Conaway fills an order of coffee at the coffee shop.
Students line up for a cup of java or hot chocolate at the Uniontown Area High School coffee shop, a business run by students of the school.
Ed Cope
as Tristan Sandrosky (left, inside shop) assists with orders in the Uniontown Area High School coffee shop.
Ed Cope
In left photo, Gina Hough (center), business, computer and information technology teacher, coordinates orders with Tristan Sandrosky (left) and Will Mitchell in the early morning coffee shop at Uniontown Area High School. In right photo, James Austin works the counter.
Each Thursday morning, a group of Uniontown Area High School students get down to business with a cup of Joe.
In a collaborative effort between Robert Manges, co-principal at Uniontown Area High School, and teacher Gina Hough, the vision of bringing entrepreneurship to the classroom has become a reality.
What started as a small project in Hough’s accounting class is now a fully operational student-run business in the form of a weekly coffee shop.
“I love the concept of entrepreneurship and being able to show the students it’s possible to work for themselves,” said Hough.
This year, Hough created an entrepreneurship class, designed to teach juniors and seniors about the skills and characteristics necessary in owning a business.
Hough’s students take turns operating the coffee shop every Thursday morning. Wearing shirts that read “Espresso Yourself,” the students carry out specific jobs within five departments: accounting, line-leading, inventory, scheduling and advertising/human resources.
“The students created the order slips, menu and everything else from scratch. They’re really getting the full business experience,” said Hough.
The coffee shop currently offers five flavors of coffee, including a “flavor of the week” promotion as well as hot chocolate and tea. Students wishing to make a purchase fill out order forms while waiting in a line that typically stretches the entire length of the school’s main hallway.
“During the week, I sometimes hear other students in the hallway say things like, ‘I wish the coffee shop was open today.’ It’s pretty popular,” said senior Alyssa Machesky.
Hough’s class uses a check-and-balance system to keep things running smoothly. They discuss any glitches at company meetings during class on Fridays.
“It was a lot of fun last year. That’s why I took Mrs. Hough’s class again,” said senior Kalie Kermes.
Despite the long lines and fast pace, everyone is enthusiastic about the success of the coffee shop.
“The kids absolutely love it. It teaches them both entrepreneurship and responsibility,” said co-principal Heather Sefcheck.
The students and faculty managed to turn the business into a school-wide effort. The art department makes the signs. The graphic arts class made the shirts.
The shop gave economics classes the opportunity to discuss collaborations between companies because of other clubs getting involved with their efforts.
Teacher Patricia Thomas works with her French Club to sell pastries, cookies and croissants to students waiting in line for coffee. The collaboration helps them raise money for field trips.
“The coffee is delicious. I always get the flavor of the week. It’s exciting and keeps things fresh,” Thomas said.
As for the students, Alyssa Machesky said she usually gets the caramel coffee, but French vanilla is the shop’s best seller. Hazelnut is a close second.
Hough said other school districts try to borrow their ideas because of the success of the coffee shop and its students.
“I like doing it. It gives us work experience. It also teaches us to interact with people,” said senior Jillian Durigon.
Profiting about $250 each week, all coffee shop proceeds go directly into the school’s student activities fund, which helps students pay for prom, graduation and other yearly activities.
“One of our core values is to promote positive school culture, and the coffee shop has become a part of that,” said Sefcheck.