Hazard, KY – Roy G. Eversole Elementary students proved that big ideas can spark real change during the school’s first-ever Summer Shark Tank Program, held June 16–20, 2025.
The program, hosted in partnership with Dr. Amanda Lawrence from the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information, challenged students to answer one important question: “How can we make our school even better?”
Dr. Lawrence explained the vision behind the initiative:
“Our goal was to create a week-long program where students could engage in community service, brainstorm solutions, and learn skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. We wanted students to see that their voices matter and that their ideas can lead to real, lasting change at their school.”
Over the course of the week, students worked in teams to identify school needs, develop creative solutions, and pitch their projects to a panel of “Sharks” made up of school staff and community members.
These student-led projects went beyond imagination and became real improvements at Roy G. Eversole Elementary:
📚 Library Expansion – Partnering with the Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC), students selected and purchased new books to expand the school library.
🎗️ Respect Campaign – Students created “Bulldogs Show Respect” bracelets and a video featuring students, staff, and SBDM members sharing what respect means at RGE. The campaign officially launched this September.
🎒 Kindergarten Bulldog Bags – To ease the transition for new students, students designed and delivered welcome bags for kindergarteners on the first day parents could no longer walk them inside.
🏀 Playground Improvements – Partnering with Laneco Custom Coating, students revitalized the basketball goal and (with the help of awesome parent volunteers) added fresh court markings to improve safety and play.
“The Shark Tank program was about giving students a voice, building teamwork, and showing them the power of creativity. These students learned that their ideas matter and can make a difference in our school community.” – Derek Allen, Principal
Given its success, Roy G. Eversole Elementary plans to continue the Shark Tank program in the future, offering even more opportunities for student voice and innovation.
Roy G. Eversole Elementary extends its gratitude to the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky for their generous support to bring these student-led projects to life. Their partnership ensured that student ideas could move from vision to reality.
We are incredibly proud of the students who stepped up to turn ideas into action. Participants included Jordyn Riddle, Sadie Jent, Adalyn Dixon, Mia Lawrence, Owen Gabbard, Judah Holland and Micah Combs.
