The Mason Makers’ Market lets students share their passions

Allie Keim | The Chronicle

With items for sale including baked goods, apparel, 3D printings, woodwork, jewelry and more, the first annual Mason Maker Market provided a space for student talents to shine. 

On February 22, 2025, Mason High School (MHS) held its first Mason Makers Market in the Dream Center. The event was held to highlight small student businesses and allow students to perform for the community. The Big Rock Student Team organized the flea market-style event to provide a “peak moment” for MHS students and Mason community members. Around 25 booths filled with student organizations and small businesses helped build the diverse display of student passions. 

Displaying her allergy-friendly desserts, freshman Akmaral Aiylchieva had hopes of procuring new customers for her bakery at the Mason Maker Market. In moving to the United States, Aiylchieva searched for a connection to Kyrgyzstan. Remembering her time spent with her aunt at her bakery, Aiylchieva began making her favorite cakes and pastries, which developed into her own business. 

“Since I was 10, I would help [my aunt] in the kitchen and watch her bake,” Aiylchieva said. “When I moved from my homeland of Kyrgyzstan, I started baking on my own. During the summer I baked every day and that’s what helped me keep going and made me calm.”

Inspired by her friends and past apprenticeship with her relatives, in the fall of 2024, Aiylchieva started her own bakery, AKM. Her products are organic, gluten-friendly and homemade, allowing for a diverse realm of customers. The market has specific requirements to put nutrition labels on and individually packaging food, helping Aiylchieva learn some necessary skills in running a business. 

Student entrepreneurs attending the event also have to consider the marketability of their booths to attract attendees to their products. Understanding this, Aiylchieva has put an immense amount of effort into planning her table. She has also developed a special menu specifically catered to the audience at the market. 

“I am [planning] on having a flowery kind of [aesthetic], that is Bridgerton themed,” Aiylchieva said. “I will have wooden plates, a fancy table cloth and flowers.”

The planning for the event more specifically from the MHS Big Rock Team was no easy feat. Junior Eliana Charpentier played a role in the logistics and marketing of the community event. As a member of the Big Rock team, she helped to develop a one-pager to present to the administrative staff, explaining the purpose of the event and how it would make an impact on the student body. Following the creation of the Mason Maker Market, these students had to ensure that the event was marketed to both student business owners and potential attendees. 

“[Our student team] all came up with what we wanted it to look like, and then we all split up into groups to organize different parts of [the market],” Charpentier said. “I created our Instagram posts and flyers to help market it. Also, my email is attached to everything, so I answer all the questions from the people that signed up.”

Senior Ashley Havlin took the stage during the market with guitar in hand and country songs fresh on her mind. Coming off the MHS National Honor Society fashion show, where Havlin performed individually for the first time in front of a large audience, she expressed excitement prior to this opportunity. Looking forward to her performance at the market, she wants to fit the atmosphere and grab attendees’ attention while on stage. 

“[The Maker Market] will be a lot different, because not only will they be walking around, but the audience will be a lot closer, they’re not going to be sitting 100 feet away from me,” Havlin said. “I want to try to catch their attention by connecting with their eyes and things like that. Personally, I already have a very strong voice, so that should catch people’s attention in itself.”

Adjusting to the more fluid environment, Havlin planned to curate her playlist to the crowd. She plays a wide variety of country songs and accompanies her singing with her guitar. Breaking into the individual side of performing on stage, the Mason Maker Market is the perfect time for Halvin to test her cover songs on a new audience. 

“One song I am definitely going to play is ‘Just to See You Smile’ By Tim McGraw,” Havlin said. “I love that one because it is more up-tempo. Also, I plan on playing one called ‘Burning House’ by Cam. That song shows off a little bit more of my guitar skills rather than my singing.”

Not only did many MHS students get to sell their designs and products, but they also got to explore other small businesses. For Aiylchieva, the Mason Maker Market was the perfect event to launch her business into the community and develop relationships with future customers. Aiylchieva said she is grateful for the ability to participate and allow others to enjoy her favorite recipes.  

“I am really, really glad that Mason created this market specifically for students,” Aiylchieva said. “Small businesses owned by students are able to express themselves in a bigger market. Specifically, this is an opportunity for student-owned businesses to show up and just look really nice.”

At another booth, sophomore Aleena Ghohestani and MHS work-study and transition coordinator Keri Thompson teamed up to sell dog treats, bones and paintings. With her mom’s help, Ghohestani created her own business, Aleena’s Dog Treats, as a way to make money for herself. Working closely with Ghohestani as her student, Thompson thought the event would be a perfect place to display their crafts as they have at different markets prior. 

“When I saw [the Mason Maker Market], I thought of Aleena, because she’s been an entrepreneur,” Thompson said. “Besides her dog bones, she enjoys and often brings into class craft items that she makes for the teachers and friends, like bracelets and paintings. I wanted to encourage her entrepreneurial spirit because self-employment is a great model, so when I saw the Maker’s Market, I thought I should see if Aleena wants to do that with me.”

Their booth at the market had a sign saying “Welcome to Aleena’s Boutique,” because she had combined her dog treats with her own paintings, and the dog bones and alpaca nesting balls the work-study program provided. Being at the Maker Market gives students involved a chance to manage money and price their own items, something the work-study program has taught Ghohestani to do.

“This is not the first time I have dealt with customers,” Ghohestani said. “At school in the hallways I [work] the snack cart and the coffee cart. Also, I go to the community center twice a year for a shop local event where I can sell [my treats].”

Beyond taking the stage, Havlin also enjoyed exploring other students displaying their work at the event. Understanding the nerves of launching into something new, Havlin said before attending that she is looking forward to supporting her peers. 

“I think it will be fun to see all the people that I know [at the market],” Havlin said. “I think it is going to be interesting because I know a lot of people in the school actually do a lot of stuff outside of class, but you don’t really hear much about it until things like this. I’m kind of excited for the chance to see these talents on display.”