MHS students traveled to state Capitol to present at Student Technology Showcase

Manchester Junior and Senior High School students at the State Capitol on December 4, 2024. Rylee Feuerbacher, Molly Caplon, Gavin Horky, Luke Walsh and Joe Walsh (teacher). Photo courtesy of Laura Biehl.

by Sara Swanson

Students from Manchester JR/SR High School were one of 25 teams of student selected from all over Michigan to bring cutting edge and innovative technology demonstrations from their classroom to lawmakers at the state Capitol Building for the 23^rd annual Student Technology Showcase on Wednesday, December 4. This event was organized by the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) and sponsored by AT&T. While many of the student groups who went focused on robotics and coding, Manchester’s students were all representing successful student-run businesses which grew out of an entrepreneurial STEM class.

Each of the four students who went represented four different student-run businesses and each presented different aspects of their businesses. Molly Caplon, 10th grader and CEO of Fizz & Beans explained, “All of us took turns talking about how our businesses started and explained how we started in 8th grade with an entrepreneurial STEM class which Mr. Walsh teaches. Gavin Horky who represented the Subzero Sweets group brought samples of different types of freeze dried candies and he talked about how they freeze dry all sorts of stuff as well as they have I think 9 different vending machines in places all around the district. Rylee Feuerbacher who represented the Bullseye Bakery group she brought doughnut samples to give to people and she explained how they make the doughnuts. Luke Walsh represented the Baam business who brought a set of engraved glassware and engraved coasters and he explained how they engrave pretty much whatever you want. They can engrave cups, water bottles, wine glasses, etc. They also have a shirt printing part of their business where they custom print shirts. And then for my display I brought two of our different types of coffee and two bath-bombs to explain how we import our own green beans from different countries like Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia and even a special type of African bean called Burundi. We also make our own bath bombs and shower steamers in house.”

Molly and fellow 10th grader and Fizz & Bean’s employee, Gage Simpson, were interviewed and talked about their business on WILX 10 News earlier this month!

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.