ROTA (PSS) — Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior Senior High School is conducting an entrepreneurship program for students called “InosInnovation.”
The program is named after Dr. Rita Hocog Inos, the late former commissioner of education and the island’s first educator to receive an Ed.D.
School principal D. Tanya King said the program was implemented during the second semester of School-Year 2020-2021 with 17 students who completed their business foundation training in February.
“We need to maintain the momentum of the program,” King said.
With 12 participating students, “InosInnovation Boot Camp” was launched on June 28, 2021 and will end on July 30, 2021.
“We have reached out to multiple government agencies to support and be part of our entrepreneurship program,” King said.
RHI’s partners are Northern Marianas College, the Workforce Investment Agency, the Rota Mayor’s Office, the Small Business Development Center, the Commonwealth Development Authority, the Department of Commerce, and Max Impacts: Maxine Laszlo Consulting.
King said RHI is also collaborating with private businesses “so they can share their expertise with students.”
She also expressed appreciation for the support of Public School System Curriculum and Instruction Senior Director Jackie Quitugua, Career and Technical Education Program Director Dr. Jessica Taylor, E-Dynamics’ Scott Carpus and RHI’s team: faculty leader Brianna Mendiola Narro and teacher Vanee Manglona.
The RHI team members, for their part, collaborated with NMC Director Diana Hocog and Rota Department of Commerce Resident Director Dean Manglona.
School principal King said her group attended numerous virtual meetings over the summer of 2020 to “select a rigorous, relevant, and relationship-driven CTE program” for Rota, particularly addressing the interests and needs of the local community.
“We mapped out a four-year entrepreneurship pathway course of study so when students graduate they will have the skills, knowledge, certification and competencies to start their own business on Rota and/or through e-commerce,” she added.
With 30 years of experience as an educator, King believes it “takes a whole island to educate a child.”
“For all of us educators,” she added, “the summer of 2020 [amid the global Covid-19 pandemic] was challenging and we all faced the unknown. No playbook and we had to navigate…without fear and with resolve.”
Since most of the jobs on Rota are government-related, entrepreneurship was the “perfect fit” for the island, she added.
She said Rota produces high school graduates who are “gifted and talented” and possess “the creativity, ingenuity and innovation” that the island needs.
Through the InosInnovation Boot Camp, the participating Rota students learn how to start a business, create a business plan, and develop a marketing plan. They also go on field trips and attend presentations and training sessions conducted by government and business experts.
The 12 participating students are currently taking NMC-Rota’s “Introduction to Business” course. Once they complete it, they will earn three college credits.
So far, the students have already created a brand name “Saevny” which stands for “Simply and Easy Vending Machines Near You.”
The students have copyrighted the brand name and are now creating a business plan.
Their proposed business involves a vending machine that will dispense healthy beverages and snacks.
According to the students, their project requires “low manpower” and its goals are simple and achievable in a short amount of time.
School principal King said “InosInnovation” provides students with a venue to develop, market, package and sell their product or service at the end of the program.
They will participate in a “Shark Tank” activity during which they will pitch their business ideas to potential investors.
The “InosInnovation” boot camp students of Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior Senior High School pose for a photo with Commonwealth Development Authority loan manager Marie Coleman who made a presentation on “How To Start A Business.”
An 8th grade Rota student participates in a InosInnovation Boot Camp session.
At As Paris, one of Rota’s restaurants, the students rated the quality of the customer service, portion size, cleanliness, presentation of food, and customer satisfaction.
“Simply and Easy Vending Machine Near You” is one of the projects presented by the Rota students.
Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior-Senior High School principal D. Tanya King and Board of Education Vice Chairman Herman Atalig meet the boot-camp participants during one of the students’ outdoor activities.
Virtual learning with Northern Marianas College.
Boot-camp participants attend their online NMC class before working on their sales pitch.
