In her final year at Oglethorpe, Charity Cloud ’26 dedicated her time to bridging the gap between campus and the local community, mentoring high school students interested in entrepreneurship through OU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC).
Cloud worked closely with Dr. Leroy Carson, Jr., assistant professor of business management and director of the EIC, to launch a business pitch competition for high schoolers from around Metro Atlanta, including Brookhaven, Buckhead, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners.
The goal of the competition was to encourage entrepreneurism among the next generation of business professionals and explore the opportunities Oglethorpe’s Hammack School of Business can offer.
With guidance from Dr. Carson, Cloud helped organize the event and mentor the high school students through their pitches.
“Working with Dr. Carson showed me what it really takes to turn an idea into something impactful by bringing it to life,” said the business administration major. “I learned to be adaptable, solve problems in real time, and lead with confidence.”
As a student leader, Cloud handled outreach to area schools, coordinated schedules, organized information sessions and guided students through foundational business concepts such as budgeting and the Business Model Canvas. But for her, the most meaningful part of the experience was mentoring the students themselves.
“I enjoyed encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit while also building their confidence,” says Cloud. “This experience helped me strengthen my leadership and communication skills, especially reaching out to people from various schools and getting them all on one page to make this vision come to life.”
The semester-long effort culminated on March 31 with the inaugural High School Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, where students from Wesleyan School and North Springs High School presented their business ideas before judges.
As Cloud prepares to graduate and pursue her master’s in business administration, she has contributed to Oglethorpe’s growing relationship with the Metro Atlanta area.
“I hope that the local students can envision themselves here and one day join the campus community,” says Cloud. “I am grateful to leave something special for future Oglethorpe students.”
