Along with introducing the new Jim & Julie Tidwell Commons, GAC introduced a brand new Business Innovation Program at GAC. This program, created for 9th - 12th grade students, encourages students to adventure into the world of entrepreneurship by offering a combination of coursework, hands-on experiences, and even an internship on GAC’s campus. 

Students begin this program by taking a Financial Literacy course, followed by a Leadership and Communications course. The beginning concepts taught in GAC’s Business Innovation Program creates students equipped for a year-long internship running & operating the Spartan Café located in Tidwell Commons at GAC. In the Business Lab, students take on roles like CEO, COO, and CMO as they manage every aspect of a small business. It’s a chance for them to apply what they’ve learned, problem-solve in real time, and understand what it truly takes to operate a business.

 “The difference with a program like this here at GAC is they're not just learning about these in an echo chamber,” says Dr. Stephen Carter, Director of GAC’s Business Innovation Program. “They're learning the content then they get to go directly apply it at the Spartan Café. So what makes this program unique is the students have a direct hands-on application of the different components they're learning about business.”

This program was created to encourage collaboration and problem-solving for students where they have the freedom to practice without major consequences. It gives students room to collaborate, problem-solve, and learn by doing. They’re gaining real business skills, growing as leaders, and developing an entrepreneurial mindset that turns challenges into opportunities. With mentorship and support, many students are starting to explore their own ideas, and the enthusiasm around entrepreneurship is expected to influence students across the entire school. We believe that students’ hands-on learning experiences are one of the best ways to prepare students for flourishing after they graduate.