Whiz Kid Finds Creative Way to Earn Cash for College

Hana Coon

Age: 13
School: Finishing seventh grade at

Accomplishment: Hana will be selling handmade earrings and necklaces Saturday in the student section of  Berkley Art Bash on Twelve Mile Road. Last year she sold her earrings and necklaces at the event'. “They were a big hit,” said her mother, Conny Coon. “We started seeing her earrings on people all over the city.” April McCrumb of in Berkley took notice and contacted Hana when opening a sister store, , and added Hana's creations for sale there. “It's taught her a lot about business and the importance of merchandising, maintaining stock levels and having an interesting display,” Coon said.

'Everyone was asking for a pair'

Hana  has been experimenting with jewelry since she was 8.

“From the time she was young, she's always enjoyed making jewelry with store-bought beads, but she saw an article once about making beads from paper. After deciding to give it a try, she mastered it and began wearing them," her mom said. "Then I began wearing them. And suddenly, everyone was asking for a pair.”

The earrings are created from colorful pages of magazines and rolled into individual beads, Coon said.

Hana  is “an all-A student who pushes herself very hard academically and is determined to attend an Ivy League college,” Coon said.

She plans to save the money she earns from her jewelry for college expenses. Hana “has always been a pretty wise-beyond-her-years kid and one who sees the larger picture,” her mom said. “The way she sees it, 'I can take the money I earn, put it toward a great college and then do something that will have an even bigger impact – like discovering a new drug or something.' ”

This year Hana will be joined by little sister Hilary at the student artist booth. More than 100 artists will sell their work during the 10th annual Berkley Art Bash,  10 a.m. -  6 p.m. The Berkley Chamber of Commerce said 12 Mile Road will be closed from Wakefield to Tyler. Chamber members are invited to display their goods outside their businesses.

“Not only is it fun to have a space in the Art Bash and to sell her handmade creations," Coon said, "but (Hana also) gets a big kick out of seeing so many people from the community all in the same day as they walk by her booth, stop and say 'hi.' ”

Berkley Patch is a sponsor of Berkley Art Bash and editor Leslie Ellis and ad manager Jarrod Dambro will be on hand to chat with visitors. So, stop by and say hi!