SMSD Student Chamber Connects Students to Local Entrepreneurs

One of the premier shopping destinations within the Shawnee Mission School District community opened its doors this spring and turned the space into a classroom.

Oak Park Mall, a destination that welcomes millions of visitors a year, invited students involved in the SMSD student chamber for a day of learning and connecting with entrepreneurs.

During their field experience, students visited multiple stations for conversations with professionals to discuss everything from business law to contracts and negotiation, to building relationships, Dr. Tiffany Dixon, SM South and SM West instructor and student chamber of commerce sponsor shared. Click here to see a video.

The SMSD Student Chamber of Commerce provides student connections to opportunities organized to “ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within every student.”

“Our mission is to empower student entrepreneurs and young business enthusiasts (Pre-K-12th grade) to thrive, collaborate, and innovate,” the organization’s website states.This opportunity ties directly to Real World Learning efforts in the Shawnee Mission School District offered to ensure students are ready for college and career. The goal in the SMSD is that by 2030 every student will graduate with a diploma and a Market Value Asset (MVA). Student chamber members have the opportunity to earn their MVA with the experiences the chamber provides. Click here to learn more about Real World Learning in the Shawnee Mission School District and Market Value Assets.

At one station, Clarence Taylor, owner of Chick-fil-A, talked to students about how to handle business expenses.

“I wish I had something like this back in my day,” Taylor expressed. “I think this is very beneficial because I’ve already talked to at least four students who are in business.”

The event taught students how to be more professional, Jordan Garcia, SM West junior noted.

“It teaches us how to go into interviews and collaborate with other professional business owners,” she added.

One of the best parts of the experience was that it helps students to gain mentors.

“You get to understand where they come from and what they do in the community,” Brendan Gillaspie, SM West 2026 junior shared. “It’s awesome. It makes it seem like it is actually doable. Sometimes you see people successful in their field and you can hold them on a pedestal and you don’t actually see what they do in real life. Here, you get to talk to them like they are real people.”

This event was a big win for the Overland Park Chamber in terms of supporting both young entrepreneurs and the community, Andrew Weisberg, director of talent at the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce explained.

“It allows them to really hone in on important skills like communication and executive and critical thinking,” Weisberg added. “These are some things we hear from employers all of the time that are really employable skills and this helps them with that entrepreneurial mindset. So, opportunities like this are exactly what we’re looking for in our community.”