Independence high school students are embedded in real-world environments as part of their curriculum to better prepare students with the academic and technical skills they need for future employers post-graduation. 

“All Things Independence" is a student-operated screen-printing store part of a capstone class for juniors and seniors in the Business Academy where they learn what it takes to run a business.

They are involved in every part of the screen-printing business. They design the prints, purchase wholesale products, screen print in the back-end of the store, tag and price merchandise, and provide customer service. 

Hannah Noel, a rising senior at William Chrisman High School, is the new manager of the store.

"I think one of the most exciting things I take away from this is obviously the real-world experience and being able to say on a job application or a college application, 'I ran a business for a year,'" Hannah Noel said. "Like that's insane to say that to someone being 17 years old."