News Post

St. Joseph’s Academy hosted a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Center for Entrepreneurship, home of the student-run St. Joe Dough cookie business. The event was held March 26 in the entrepreneurship space of the Sister Agatha Dining Hall. 

Principal Stacia Andricain welcomed guests and explained that students in Yvette Aillet’s Entrepreneurship class have been hard at work since August creating St. Joe Dough from scratch. “They have learned about the world of small business ownership and management through market research and customer surveys, creating a business plan and by studying finance and start-up costs, trends, site selection, marketing and pricing strategies,” she said. “All of their work has led us to today, when we officially dedicate this space as the home of SJA’s first-ever student-run business.” 

Will and Beth Pecue and Danny and Melony Fields were thanked for offering financial support to bring the Center for Entrepreneurship to fruition. 

Also introduced were the parents and guests of the Entrepreneurship class; SJA board members Derek Fife and Chris Valluzzo; President Jan Breen; and deans Christina Myles and Aimee Urdiales. 

Aillet said the Center for Entrepreneurship has allowed her class to fully experience the joys and frustrations of opening a business. “These students are truly learning how to run a business, not how to bake cookies,” she said. “They’ve gone through the trials and tribulations of building something from the ground up. … We are so proud of our new student-run business and happy you are here to be part of its ribbon cutting.”

Deacon Michael Parker led the gathering in prayer. Assisted by senior Andie Dotson, he blessed the space. They were then joined by Aillet, Will Pecue, Danny and Melony Fields, junior Melia Hooper and senior Brynn Arena in the cutting of the ribbon. 

Following the ribbon cutting, the Entrepreneurship class hosted a milk-and-cookies reception and tours of the St. Joe Dough kitchen.

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director