Comfort for the Head. Comfort for the Heart.

It began as a group assignment, a scholastic task that often warrants collective groans from pupils and parents alike. Nancy Puddephatt, the Gifted and Talented teacher at Christ Lutheran, charged her students with a school assignment to come up with an innovative product, marketing and business plan. Following the Arkansas's Youth Entrepreneur Showcase Business Plan Competition (Y.E.S.), Nancy required that students divide themselves into teams and begin their first experiences into the business world.

Now, Nancy knows that the benefits of entrepreneurship education include improved student performance, upgraded school performance, and enhanced economic competitiveness; she is, after all, charged with cultivating the minds of the exceptional students in her school. As an educator, she finds that entrepreneurship training encourages youth to employ sophisticated math and science concepts in real-life situations, leading to greater interest and improved performance in math and science. "Similarly," she adds, "individuals that receive entrepreneurship training are more likely to start a business, and most importantly to sustain and grow a business." It is these companies that will be the cornerstone of future economic growth, job creation, and wealth generation.

Y.E.S. for Arkansas is a statewide business plan competition where students in grades 5th-8th showcase their creativity, intuition, and innovation. The competition is designed to encourage Arkansas' students to act upon their ideas and talents in order to produce tomorrow's businesses. This approach encourages students to apply what they learn in school to a real-world setting.

The competition was initiated in 2005 as a collaborative project for middle school students. Since then, a total of 1315 students (grades 5-8) representing 38 schools have participated and over $21,500 in cash has been awarded. Y.E.S is managed by the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of Arkansas Capital Corporation. From this year's class at Christ Lutheran, Nancy lead a group of 7th grade girls who won 2nd most innovative product in the state, as well as were chosen top 25 finalists among over 200 competing teams.

Their business is called Prayer Pillows, and team members include Peyton Watts, Leah Sanders and Autumn Stice. Prayer Pillows is a personalized pillowcase featuring an initial and comforting prayer on the back, and are available in several colors and designs. There are four different prayers from which clients can choose. Specializations include the size of the pillow (travel or standard), the color of the case, gender specific clip art and options for personalizing your purchase through initials. In their business plan, the girls said they believe everyone can benefit from reading a comforting, inspirational message as they drift off to sleep.

Nancy is teaching her students you can do anything you set your mind to - by encouraging creativity and providing them with the business skills they will need for success. Their product is apropos for the month of May, because not only does Nancy provide her students and these girls with motherly guidance, Prayer Pillows is an ideal, Arkansas-made Mother's Day gift idea.

While each girl had different ideas for creating the Prayer Pillow, they agreed they wanted a product tied to God that you could use everyday. Peyton, exercising her recently honed business acumen, added that "if you can use it everyday, you're more likely to purchase it!" Valuable lessons from the competition included developing a detailed business plan, as well as a marketing strategy, that for these girls, included flyers and a radio commercial. When asked if they ever imagined it would be this successful, all three girls nodded their heads in a silent, but resounding "No!" They each agreed that it would be really fun to keep their business going, and that they have learned so much; specifically to think before they implement plans. To those in upcoming Y.E.S. competitions, the girls advise that you "don't procrastinate in your work." Aptly, from the mouths of youth, we can all learn from that. Pillows can be purchased through Nancy Puddephatt at Npuddephatt@clutheran.org

Photography by Nancy Nolan