The North Iowa Area Community College John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center held the inaugural IDEA Camp for middle school students on Presidents’ Day, Monday February 17, 2025.
28 students from 12 schools across North Iowa attended IDEA Camp where they put into practice life’s key skills: innovation, discovery, entrepreneurship, and achievement. This hands-on program guides young innovators through the essential stages of business creation, from brainstorming ideas to crafting a solid business model. During the day, students learned the key principles of entrepreneurship, created a business plan, and presented their business in a Pitch Competition. Three student teams were awarded the top prizes:
1st Place - Preston's Lawncare, Preston Gniadecki (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District, 8th Grade)
2nd Place - The Cat's Nook, Aaliyah Dodge (Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School District, 8th Grade) and Lily Fitch (Homeschool, 7th Grade)
3rd Place - Scrunch It! Ellie Borcherding, (St. Paul's Lutheran School, 7th Grade)
IDEA Camp is one of many youth entrepreneurship initiatives at the NIACC Pappajohn Center. Raegan Hanson, NIACC Pappajohn Center Youth Entrepreneurship Coordinator, said “Teaching entrepreneurship is an investment in our students – the entrepreneurial mindset drives innovation, fuels economic growth, and empowers the next generation to turn bold ideas into lasting impact. When young minds learn to think like entrepreneurs, they build the skills and confidence to redefine what’s possible and shape the future.”
The next IDEA Camp will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to coincide with Spring Break. The camp will run 8:30am to 3:30pm. Check-in begins at 8am. The camp will be held at the Pappajohn Center Room #117 at the NIACC campus in Mason City, IA. Register at https://www.niacccamps.com/idea-camp.cfm. For more information, please contact Raegan Hanson at 641-422-4234 or raegan.hanson@niacc.edu.
IDEA Camp is for creative and ambitious middle school students who are eager to explore entrepreneurship, develop creative problem-solving skills, and build confidence in their ability to create and innovate. No prior experience is required—just curiosity and enthusiasm!
Left to right: 1st Place - Preston's Lawncare, Preston Gniadecki (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District, 8th Grade)
3rd Place - Scrunch It! Ellie Borcherding, (St. Paul's Lutheran School, 7th Grade)
2nd Place - The Cat's Nook, Lily Fitch (Homeschool, 7th Grade) and Aaliyah Dodge (Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School District, 8th Grade)
