FREEDOM FORUM STUDENTS VIEW ENTREPRENEURSHIP

With the right people and financing, a group of high school students believe they could open an amusement park near Benton and make it profitable.

Students from Southeast Missouri attending the Missouri Freedom Forum created new businesses based on need and profitability.

About 140 high school students from St. Louis to the Bootheel are discussing freedom and free enterprise at the annual, three-day gathering. It is sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau.

Students hear from business leaders and legislators; they also work on group projects like the one Tuesday on starting a new business.

For one group, "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood," a park with bumper boats, go-carts, miniature-golf and arcade games was the plan to provide something to do for teens.

They decided to locate the park near Benton because land is available, it's near Sikeston and the new outlet mall there, near the racetrack at Benton, and along heavily-traveled Interstate 55.

After the financial wangling, marketing and advertising, Keith Robinson, named CEO of the business because of his high aptitude to become an entrepreneur, said, yes, this project really could work.

"It's been a good experience," Robinson said. "We have been teaching each other what we know about business. Plus we are learning from people with real experience and how they were able to do it."

Robinson wasn't surprised he scored high on the entrepreneurial scale. He plans a career in advertising, most likely as owner of his own business.

Eric Danker of Perryville, finance officer for the company, estimated the project would take a half-million dollar investment.

He and his committee estimated costs for everything from land to golf balls.

"It made me think," Danker said. "There are lots of things that go into the start of a business. You really have to think before you go into a business. There are a lot of hidden costs.

"It has opened my eyes to the way the free market operates," he said.

Danker plans to be an engineer, but he doesn't rule out starting his own business.

Kim Westrich, who attends Notre Dame High School, served as marketing director for the company.

While she and others had fun trying to remember the words to the Mr. Rogers television show theme song for a radio ad, they got serious about the project.

"It could happen," Westrich said, "if you got the right people and the money it would take a lot of work."

She said, "This brought in a lot of aspects about business that I never thought of."

Westrich, who also ranked high on the entrepreneurial scale, was surprised at the outcome.

"I always thought I would work for someone, but you know, I sometimes have a little surge for power," she said.

"I've enjoyed this. We have had a lot of fun and it's been interesting. These are things I never cared about before, but now it's making me think."