Claymont students find success through creativity

Originality has been the key to the success of the Junior Achievement program at Claymont High School, where students have used their creativity to earn more accolades than their competitors.

Junior Achievement is a nationwide program that helps students learn entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness. Claymont business teacher Andrew Zimmerman is pleased that the school has utilized the program, which offers free curriculum.

A team of seven students has organized itself as a business for The Next Chapter, a JA company. Maddie Dean is the chief executive officer, Kaylee Robinson is chief operating officer, Aubree Potts is chief marketing officer, Jeremy Haver is chief financial officer, Korbin Burkholder is chief technology officer, and Allen Chrest and Chloe Dean are in sales.

This year, the group developed a book called “The Next Chapter: Flip the Page to Adulthood.” An app is in development for the product too, which, according to Zimmerman, has not been done before as a Junior Achievement project.

“It’s for graduates or young adults who need advice on a lot of life skills," Maddie Dean said. “That would be home economics, cooking, cleaning, it could be car and home maintenance.”

The project was developed because the students saw a need. The students didn’t feel prepared to take care of themselves in many areas like finance, credit and debit.

“Because we’re not of age, most of us don’t have access to that and some of us don’t even know what that is,” Maddie Dean said.

A lack of home economics programs in schools can leave a gap in basic home tasks, including washing clothes.

“Some of us know a career path, but we’re not sure how to take care of ourselves with these problems,” Maddie Dean said.

The book covers many topics, including things like dealing with light bulbs, changing a tire, health, family, budgeting, time management, and it even includes life wisdom from some of the people the students spoke with to create the book. Gardening has a chapter too, and the book can help with how to fill out a job application.

“We did learn a lot for ourselves. We did research with the professionals in each field that we mentioned in our book. We really focused on, obviously, our writing skills and all of the skills in the book,” Kaylee Robinson said.

The group did fundraisers to earn enough money to have the book published. They set up a raffle at the Mustang Mania event at the middle school last October and held bake sales every few weeks at the high school.

The book was published by Bloom Printing and is available for $20. When the app is launched, it will be available for a $5 one-time purchase. Purchases may be made at NextChapterJA.myshopify.com. CTO Korbin Burkholder did the programming for the website.

The group will donate 10% of its profits to The JED Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on mental health for teens and young adults. The foundation also partners with schools to give access to subjects such as substance abuse, mental health and suicide prevention programs.

The book is a great gift for new graduates, and the team will be doing a second printing to accommodate more sales.

The product is a resource that anyone could use. Older adults can find it useful. One customer bought books intended for use by immigrants to assist them in adjusting to a new environment by providing straightforward instructions, such as how to use kitchen appliances.

The group has done much to promote its product already. They spoke with both the Dover and New Philadelphia Rotary Clubs and then appeared on the “New Day Cleveland” television show on Fox 8.

The Claymont JA group will compete April 23 at the 2026 JA Entrepreneurship Challenge and Expo at Walsh University’s Barrette Center in Canton, where they will showcase their business, compete for awards and present to business experts.

As at past competitions, Zimmerman thinks the group will do well again this year.

“We’re the only program of its kind in Tuscarawas County and our kids are doing some great things,” Zimmerman said.