High school students get a head start at DeGroote

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/business heroes.jpg” caption=”Participants of the High School Business Heroes program include (back row) Jenna Willis (Grade 12, Parkside HS), Tameika Gentles (co-head organizer), Fiammetta Mazzetti (assistant superintendent, Halton Catholic District School Board), Remo Presutti (superintendent, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board), Joe Caiella (Harvey’s), Christina Wood (co-head organizer) and Justin Moros (Grade 9, Cardinal Newman). Front row: Sara Darcy (Grade 12, Bishop Tonnos), Katie Lindley (Grade 12, Bishop Tonnos). Photo by Julia Thomson.”]The DeGroote School of Business yesterday launched a unique educational program that will provide high school students with a hands-on introduction to marketing and post-secondary education.

Called High School Business Heroes, the program challenges high school students to work through a marketing task which will involve planning, promoting and implementing a charitable event. Participants will be able to call on the expertise of DeGroote undergraduate students who will mentor teams throughout the competition. Arnie Strub of Strub's Pickles has also joined the competition as head mentor.

The competition is organized by undergraduate students at the DeGroote School of Business and is open to high school students from 33 high schools in the Hamilton-Wentworth District Public High Schools, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District High Schools, and Halton Catholic District High Schools — a potential 30,000 students.

At the end of the competition, the winning team will be awarded a $2,000 prize along with $7,500 to implement their charitable event, courtesy of Hamilton Harvey's franchisees.

“This project is a strong example of community relations and community relations that provide an opportunity for all our students,” says Remo Presutti, superintendent of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. “It engages our students and gives teachers the opportunity to make their curriculum authentic for the students.”

While some teachers are using High School Business Heroes as part of their curriculum, other students are working on it in clubs or as an extracurricular activity. Alongside the mentors, high school business teachers also serve as a resource and support system to students.

High School Business Heroes will provide high school students with the opportunity to learn, grow and develop their skills — the true value of the competition. A hope is that high school students will realize their potential or passion for the business world, thus providing clarity in regards to post-secondary education, says co-head co-ordinator Christina Wood, a second-year student at DeGroote.

Adds third-year student and co-head co-ordinator Tameika Gentles, “This competition will showcase the up-and-coming leaders of tomorrow. Participants will show that they are willing to go above and beyond the classroom to learn and achieve. The program will show the process to ultimately executing a marketing program that will take place in local Hamilton and Halton communities.”

The competition will run from Feb. 19 to June 6.