Winnebago High School students start their own business

WINNEBAGO, Ill. (WIFR) – ‘Crafting confidence one bar at a time’ – This is the vision behind a business venture for at least seven students who are part of Winnebago High School’s life skills program.

Empowered Soaps is the creation of the life skills program at Winnebago High School to help students get involved in the world of business.

“I was just researching, like small businesses and trying to figure out something that they could do, but was still challenging and be fun,” says teacher Bob Moore.

Moore says as students become upperclassmen, they need skills that will help them in the real world.

“It teaches us how to make stuff and measure stuff too,” says student Angie Morris Snyder.

The students do everything themselves from combining the materials to pouring the soap mixture into molds.

“Well, I just love it because it’s fun to make,” says student Alex Danecki.

“We’ve been a week without coconut oil. It came today, and the first thing they asked, ‘Can we make some? Can we make some?” says Moore.

The soaps are sold at the school and the following local businesses:

• Winnebago
  • Freedlund Chiropractic
  • Reflections Salon
• Pecatonica
  • Bax T’s
  • Shannon’s Salon
  • The Pharmacy
  • Rosie’s Coffee Shop
• Rockford
  • Wayne’s Feed
  • Miss Lemasterr’s School of Dance

“They said they loved it. They loved the smell and the texture of it,” says Danecki. “We give them to the parents. They’re talking about getting them for stocking stuffers,”

Proceeds go into an account for the life skills program to buy the soap-making materials and to take students on field trips.

“The kids maybe have some things that set them back a little bit, but they’re capable of doing so much more,” says Moore.

Moore hopes to expand the business and cooperate with other area like skills programs.

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