Big Gig Jr.

 

Helps extend the reach of Bangor Region entrepreneurship to youth.  It is a partnership among Junior Achievement of Maine, Big Gig, and UpStart Maine to introduce entrepreneurship education and pitch coaching to middle school students.  Since 2017-18, we have piloted Big Gig Jr. with the seventh grade at Leonard Middle School in Old Town.  Each school year Junior Achievement brings its JA in a Day entrepreneurship curriculum to the school's entire seventh grade.  Leonard Middle School then conducts its annual science fair and selects 3 seventh graders to go onto Big Gig Jr.  UpStart Maine volunteers coach the students on pitching their innovations and the students make their pitches in front of a video camera. The videos are screened at Big Gig's annual finale, where the students -- just like the Big Gig finalists -- have a chance to interact with the Big Gig judges.  The audience at the finale votes the winner, and all three students are recognized for their innovations.