Laker entrepreneurs recognized at event

Carly Rasbaugh took first place and a $1,000 prize in the Entrepreneurship Academy Showcase at the LaGrange American Legion. (Photo Contributed)

Lakeland High School senior Carly Rasbaugh won first place and $1,000 for her entrepreneurship project during a year-end event last Monday at the LaGrange American Legion.

The premiere Entrepre­neurship Academy Showcase featured 11 students and 10 projects, judged by Sherri Johnston, Executive Direc­tor of the LaGrange County Economic Development Cor­poration; Tony Ramey, Asso­ciate Professor and Entrepre­neurship Program Chair, Ivy Tech Fort Wayne; and Iris Hammel, Executive Director of RISE (Regional Innova­tion and Startup Education) and Senior Vice President of the Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation.

Teacher Tami Maxey, who is certified by RISE, leads the Laker Leadership Center, housed in the former Wolcott Mills Elementary School in Wolcottville.

Guests at the showcase networked with students during a dinner then heard about businesses students launched as part of the class.

“I started my podcast in February of this year, and I have 10 released episodes,” said Rasbaugh. “I release epi­sodes, usually, every Friday.”

Xai Leu, shown with Sherri Johnston, left, Tami Maxey and Lakeland Community Schools Superintendent Traci Blaize, took second place in the Entrepreneurship Academy Showcase (Photo Contributed)

“No Rain, No Flowers” streams on services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts and focuses on mental health issues experienced by young people.

“I started a mental health business because I struggle with anxiety and depression, and I found that it was common in my peers and friends to also struggle,” Rasbaugh said. “I notice a stigma in men­tal health, and how teenag­ers are too afraid to open up about what they are go­ing through. Therefore, I started my podcast to give the listeners a sense of re­latability, I wanted to give mental health a voice, and I wanted my guests to be able to share their story.”

Over the course of her programs, local adults and teenagers have joined her to talk about subjects that may sometimes get swept under the rug. “No Rain, No Flowers” has had more than a thousand listens.

“I have been very blessed by all of the sup­port I have been given, and the awards I have re­ceived,” Rasbaugh said.

In February, she won the first-place prize of $1,000 at the Trine Inno­vation Challenge.

“I also sell merchan­dise, and from my first pre-order, I made over $400 in sales. Since I in­vite other people onto my episodes, I have a huge demand for people who also want to appear on an episode. So much so that I have a waiting list,” Ras­baugh said.

During Monday’s pro­gram at the Legion, two people offered to purchase a domain for a website for “No Rain, No Flowers.”

Maxey describes Ras­baugh as a self-starter who “jumped right in.”

“She does put in a lot of time,” Maxey attested.

She said all the stu­dents showed ingenuity, and she enjoyed watch­ing their businesses from their beginnings to what they have become today. Her lesson to the stu­dents: You get back what you put in.

“Each of these stu­dents brought their own unique traits with them when we started at the beginning of the year. It has been so fun to see them all grow,” Maxey said. “I have enjoyed my time coaching and work­ing alongside of them, and am extremely proud of each and every one of them. I look forward to what the future holds for each of them.”

Second place prize of $500 went to junior Xai Leu, who created video company XL Film and Production.

“I started the business because I’ve always been passionate about vid­eo editing,” said Leu. “I liked watching what peo­ple were capable of doing in movies and YouTube videos and such.”

A friend asked him to record a highlight video and Leu said he realized there may be a demand for the service.

“I definitely plan to con­tinue as it’s a lot of fun and it’s a beautiful art form and way I can express myself,” Leu said. “I look forward to the future and growing my skills in college and onward and I hope to make a career out of it.”

Rasbaugh said through her podcast experience she developed a passion for mental health awareness.

“I have always loved helping people, and I have become more aware of my own mental health,” she said. She will attend Middle Georgia State Uni­versity in Macon, Georgia to study psychology and anticipates continuing the podcast.

“I plan to either become a therapist, or become a li­censed psychologist with a criminology background. I also plan to minor in Span­ish,” Rasbaugh said.

Raul Ballines won the $250 wildcard prize from the LaGrange Economic Development Corporation and $50 for best network­er. Katherine Marin won $50 for best table display. The $50 prizes were cho­sen by a “secret shopper” who attended the event, said Maxey.

Marin started her busi­ness Blue Night Lashes before enrolling in the En­trepreneurship Academy. Maxey extolled Marin’s creativity not just in cos­metic eyelash enhance­ment but creating gift packages.

Throughout the school year, students meet with area businesspeople and participate in competi­tions like the Trine Inno­vation Challenge.

“Last year we also sent two students to the elite business competition in the state, Innovate With­in,” said Maxey.

The Laker academy partners with Ivy Tech for dual credit, which totals 31 credits for the full two-year program, although students do not have to take both years. Year one gives them 16 dual credits, and an entrepreneurship certificate. Year two gives them 15 more credits.

“Overall,” said Leu, “it was a class different from any other I had ever tak­en. I would recommend it to anyone who is up for a challenge to look at the world in a new way and is comfortable talking to new people.”