Athletic Director Anthony McCall and Director of The Ross Roeder Institute Earl Walton have collaborated recently to begin a new student-run business: the concession stand. Starting this semester, students have the opportunity to work alongside faculty sponsors and learn what it means to be a leader. 

     Upper School students, particularly in Walton’s business classes, have been encouraged to take part in this new addition to campus. A rotation of students will run the concession stand at every varsity home game this year.      

     “[The kids] learn to stock, learn to order. Then the bottom line actually is they work the concession stands. It all came to be because of an idea from Mr. Walton,” McCall said. This new program teaches not just how to sell snacks, but skills that are necessary for business and entrepreneurship.

     According to Junior Achievement USA, 60 percent of teens in the United States would prefer starting their own business over working a traditional job. Students interested in business possess a similar sentiment. 

     “I’ve always wanted to go into business,” junior Tristan Chang said. “I signed up because I wanted more exposure to the business side of things in every aspect of Shorecrest, and it has taught me a lot of good skills.”

     Chang isn’t the only one getting this experience. A team of 18 students from across grade levels contributes to running concessions each game, allowing those who used to run the concessions to focus on the action. 

     “Before we had this program, it would have mainly been parent volunteers or my office doing concessions,” McCall said. Now, parent volunteers are free to enjoy the game while Athletics can devote more time to the field instead of the sidelines.

     Aside from learning business basics, there are additional benefits to participating in the program. Service hours are a graduation requirement, and working the concession stand allows students to earn them.

     Yet, some current participants have already obtained more than the required hours, instead motivated by a desire to give back to the community and ensure sports supporters have a high-quality game experience. 

     “We need it,” McCall said. “That’s a service we want to provide not just for our fans, but any fan that is attending any sporting event here.”