Rumor has it you can make just about anything with duct tape, so students at Lopez Elementary are trying to make the world better for others with pencil holders made of the wonder tape.

“I like making these pencil holders because I get to be creative and make all different kinds with different color combinations,” said Beau Van Der Sluys, fifth-grader. Lopez fifth-graders get creative with duct tape.

Lopez fifth-graders have created their own original pencil pouch made of bright-colored and patterned duct tape with a Velcro or zipper closure, complete with a three-ring hole punch to fit in school binders. The pencil pouches sell for $4 each through the Lopez school store.  All proceeds will benefit the Respite Care program in Larimer County to help send children with disabilities to summer camp. OtterCares, an OtterBox foundation, which strives to educate and empower youth to give back to the community through an entrepreneurial effort, has promised to match the amount Lopez raises for the Respite Care program.

OtterCares representatives recently spoke to Lopez students about developing a product, business plan and the importance of changing the product to meet the demands of the consumer. They highlighted their three G’s philosophy of “getting, growing and giving.” The goal is to instill in students a habit of giving.

“The idea is to get the money, see if you can grow it and then give it back to the community,” said Susan Gunstream, fifth-grade teacher.

Since Lopez is a “Leader in Me” school,” students are also following Stephen Covey’s seven habits of highly effective people in this entrepreneurial, philanthropic effort. “We’re trying to incorporate the entire Leader in Me habits in this effort,” Gunstream said, noting that students developed the pencil holder idea on their own.

“They wanted a product that was useful to everyone and a product that they could easily make in a short amount of time,” she said.

Students have sold about 15 pencil holders and are learning about the importance of quality, as they constantly make improvements to their product based on feed back from customers.

“We’ve had some complaints about the inside falling apart so we’ve been trying to fix that,” said Caitlin Hendrie, fifth-grader.

Making and selling pencil holders to help out other kids have proven to be a fun, educational and worthwhile learning experience for students.

“I feel happy that I’m helping kids go to summer camp that might not get to go,” said Kelly Justice, fifth-grader.

“It’s been a learning experience for me,” said Dylan DeRouchey, fourth-grader, “and it’s good to help the Respite Care program.”