Jackpot Combined School has opened The Wild Spot, a new student-developed and student-operated school store and manufacturing space, made possible through a $10,000 grant from the Nevada Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) and additional funding from the Elko County School District’s incentive grant program.
The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to expand the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) designation.
Schools receive this designation by implementing real-world problem-solving, critical thinking, and career exploration. Funds from OSIT enabled the purchase of key manufacturing equipment, including vinyl cutters, heat presses, and 3D printers. Students are using the equipment to design and produce items such as T-shirts, cups, 3D printed items, and notebooks, which are sold in the store.
“A previous teacher prep space has been refreshed to create the student-run retail space. One of the modular classrooms was converted into a design and manufacturing space for the students,” said Heather Steel, ECSD career and technical education facilitator and work-based learning coordinator. “It’s a perfect solution for our students in Jackpot, where there is a scarcity of local employers that can provide students with work-based learning experiences off campus.”
The Wild Spot is operated by students in the school, including the special education program. It serves as transition training, designed to build real-world job skills and entrepreneurial experience.
Planning for the store began last year, with students and staff working collaboratively to bring the vision to life. Today, The Wild Spot stands as a hands-on learning environment that connects classroom instruction with practical application in business and manufacturing.