Culver-Stockton Business Class Recognized for Hands-On Main Street Projects

Photo: Robin Jarvis, Culver-Stockton lecturer, and Kristy Horner, Canton Main Street Assn., and C-SC business students. 

A Culver-Stockton College business class that trades traditional lectures for real-world Main Street projects is being recognized as a benchmark for experiential learning.

Culver-Stockton Lecturer in Business Robin Jarvis has been selected to lead a roundtable discussion about her class’s work with the Canton Main Street Association (CMSA) at the Society for Experiential Education (SEE) convention in Savannah, Georgia, later this fall.

According to Jarvis, the partnership started in January 2025 to help students apply classroom management principles to real community needs. Each semester, students meet with CMSA board members at the downtown Welcome Center, pitch project proposals, and carry out their plans before the term ends.

Across three cohorts, 86 students have completed 24 projects. An additional 32 students are participating in the Fall 2026 semester.

Student projects so far include:

• Technology and operations: Rebuilt the CMSA website from scratch and automated the Welcome Center’s inventory by setting up a Square sales terminal linked to a live spreadsheet.
• Small business marketing: Produced low-cost promotional videos for local businesses, including Primo’s, Pub 314, US Wellness Meats, CC’s Coffee Shop, and Ellison Service.
• Community improvement: Restored the Martin Park basketball courts, organized community movie nights and art camps, and created promotional assets for local events.

Feedback from local business owners has been positive, particularly regarding the video promotions, which give small businesses free marketing materials while allowing students to build their portfolios.

“Partnering with Culver-Stockton students gives us fresh energy and ideas, and it helps us build new connections across generations,” said Kristy Horner, president of the Canton Main Street Association. “When we pair students who are developing new skills with experienced community members of various backgrounds, the collaboration process moves our community forward. We learn as much from the students as they learn from us when it comes to the latest technology, social media, events, and placemaking ideas to attract visitors and improve the quality of life in our small town. It truly is a win-win for Canton!”

From Classroom Theory to Real-World Results

Over the course of the partnership, Jarvis has refined the class structure based on input from business owners and students. Early on, the class learned that launching entirely new, large-scale events in a single 12-week semester created unnecessary friction. The framework was adjusted to focus on specific, high-impact projects that students can realistically finish within the term.

Looking ahead, current student teams are preparing promotional materials for the City of Canton’s upcoming Bicentennial, launching new fundraising campaigns, and conducting a full downtown business inventory using the Building Opportunities On Main Street (BOOMS) Tracker.

As the program grows, Jarvis aims to scale the partnership sustainably so future cohorts can continue building long-term ties between the college and the local community. Beyond presenting at the SEE convention to help other universities replicate the program, her goal is to maintain a model where students gain real career experience, faculty bring practical value to their curriculum, and the local business district receives ongoing support.

“Listening to lectures on management theory is one thing, but sitting across from a local business owner, navigating communication challenges, and adjusting plans on the fly builds genuine professional resilience,” Jarvis said. “When challenges arise, students learn to troubleshoot independently rather than looking to a textbook.”

For more information about Culver-Stockton’s programs in business, visit https://culver.edu/majors/.