MOUNT POCONO, Pa. (April 19, 2015) — An Achievement House Cyber Charter School senior who turned her hobby of creating temporary henna tattoos into a business through an entrepreneur class at school was selected as a finalist to compete in the Greater Philadelphia Youth Entrepreneurship Competition & Expo on April 19.

Shainna Gooding, 18, of Mount Pocono, is one of about 15 students enrolled in a yearlong entrepreneur class offered online at Achievement House Cyber Charter School through Schoolyard Ventures, an innovative program that helps teens start businesses, nonprofit organizations and other real-world projects.

Shainna won the pitch competition at her school to qualify as a finalist at the expo, where she will go up against other teens who will present their business plans. The expo is part of Philly Tech Week and is being held at the Germantown Academy, 340 Morris Road, Fort Washington, Pa., from 5-8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19.

Shainna will present her business, “Henna is Beauty,” during the pitch competition that begins at 5:15 p.m. The pitch competition is similar to the television show “Shark Tank,” but students will be pitching their businesses to a panel of judges for awards instead of to investors.

“I became interested in henna tattoos after watching another henna tattoo artist, and I started doing it for fun as a hobby,” Shainna said. “I don’t think I would have turned it into a business like this if I did not take the class at Achievement House Cyber Charter School.”

Shainna’s business already is starting to produce profits. Her business plan included the cost of materials, traveling expenses and marketing, including social media and a blog at www.Hennaisbeauty.wordpress.com.

Schoolyard Ventures Lead Instructor E. Scott Aronow said the student pitches are judged based on their presentation, business results and entrepreneurial knowledge.

“It’s action that generates the results that makes you successful as an entrepreneur,” Aronow said. “Shainna put in a tremendous amount of time and effort into making her business successful.”

Shainna and seven other Achievement House Cyber Charter School students also will be setting up displays at the expo that will be judged against the exhibits of about 50 other teen entrepreneurs enrolled in a Schoolyard Ventures program.

About: Achievement House Cyber Charter School is an independently-operated online public school authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to serve Pennsylvania students in Grades 7-12. Nearly 850 students are reaching their full potential through a custom-designed, web-based computer platform, which provides students access from their homes to live virtual classrooms and interactive online coursework. The Business and Technology Department offers Microsoft® IT Academy.

I don’t think I would have turned it into a business like this if I did not take the class at Achievement House Cyber Charter School.