Patrons of local eatery Rosie’s Diner were treated to a new addition to the menu over two weekends in the month of December thanks to a partnership between Lewis-Palmer High School Intro to Business students, Business Teacher Byron Trop and Rosie’s Diner owner A.B. Tellez.
The path from concept to product on plate was both a real-world and academic lesson, according to Trop, who challenged students to form teams, conduct research, deliver a product pitch and help execute marketing and more for a potential final selection.
The multi-month project kicked off in September, as students began their research projects. On September 29, students prepared to pitch their group’s selected menu item to Tellez, Trop and D38 Director of Communication and Public Relations Mark Belcher, as part of a Shark Tank-style pitch.
Nine total groups proposed ideas from breakfast bagel sandwiches, pumpkin spice pancakes, mac and cheese dishes, and even a seasonal milkshake. As presentations unfolded, Tellez, Trop and Belcher provided feedback to the students both on the concept and presentation, with each group getting points of success and areas of improvement.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you present, and the first two things I wrote down are confident and credible,” Trop said as a positive note of feedback to Group 7, which pitched a ‘Ranger Spice Milkshake.”
Tellez offered real-world feedback, including whether or not he thought a product would be successful in his eatery.
“That picture you’re showing is incredible. That’s the power of having a good visual when you’re nervous. I can’t tell you what you did that I didn’t like, because I’m captivated by that picture,” Tellez told Group 4, which presented an “Orange and Black Chicken and Waffle Stack.”
Ultimately, Group 8 won the day by pitching a simple and savory Avocado Toast named “Monumental Avocado Toast.”
The judges each liked the idea for its marketability and its easy introduction to the Rosie’s Diner menu due to all ingredients already being in stock.
Ultimately, this triggered the class to reformat into teams working on planning, communication and marketing with the goal of bringing the product to market in December. Their efforts paid off, as on December 9, Monumental Avocado Toast was introduced to the menu, and was sold until December 18.
Moving forward, students will work with Tellez to understand how the product sold and reflect on what each student could have done differently to improve upon the group’s collective success.
“Our young people live in a very complex world that is very different than when I grew up,” Trop said in reflection about the project. “Students will need to leverage their learning to build skills that will be valuable to future careers. Sometimes school seems very academic, and I want them to make the connection between subjects they learn in school with potential careers. Hopefully, some of them see marketing as a way forward for themselves.”
Moving forward, Tellez anticipates partnering with LPHS students, and Trop’s classes again.
“We will conduct another project next semester,” Trop confirmed. “We hope this becomes a routine event that Rosie’s and the students look forward to each semester.”