MONROE - Instead of a regular day of classes, Monroe High School sophomore Makayla Harrow was thrust into the aerospace industry Wednesday, making crop dusters. She and a team of other students were then faced with the task of developing a new corporate image for their company - all part of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce's "Mini" Business World program hosted by Blackhawk Technical College.
"It was cool to see how everyone works together in a business," Harrow said.
Harrow was one of about 70 students from Monroe, Brodhead, Juda, Monticello and Albany who participated in the educational program sponsored by Colony Brands and BTC.
The students were split into nine teams, each given a different industry and a scenario where they played the part of new employees with a mission to rebrand their company. They created business plans and logos, while each company had production, marketing and finance departments, as well as a CEO.
Albany High School sophomore Haley Knauf has plans to pursue a business degree after high school and said it was difficult managing finances for a company, compared to doing it on a smaller scale. Her company was an outdoor business, and her team decided they wanted to focus on outdoor shoes in New York City.
"It's giving them a chance to stick their toes in the water and see 'Is this really for me?'" said Jack Orton, director of the WMC Business World program. "We talk about everything from the free market system to Wisconsin's rich history as a manufacturing powerhouse."
Another group including Nicholas Blumer, a senior at Monticello High School, came up with a towel rack that not only dries towels but simultaneously cleans them.
"It was good learning to work with a random group of people you've never met," Blumer said.
The teams built their companies throughout the day, listening to lectures and participating in hands-on activities, such as a "The Price is Right" game where the theme is Wisconsin products and companies.
At the end of the day, the students' teachers were the judges in a "Shark Tank" presentation. Each group gave a short presentation on their company's product - how much it costs and how they came up with it. The winners receive scholarships to attend the WMC Business World summer program, which is essentially the same experience but extended over the course of four days.
"Today is very much a thought experiment," Orton said. "It's very much about introducing the kids to what opportunities are available to them outside of high school, whether that's the job market, college or a tech school of some kind."
"It was cool to see how everyone works together in a business," Harrow said.
Harrow was one of about 70 students from Monroe, Brodhead, Juda, Monticello and Albany who participated in the educational program sponsored by Colony Brands and BTC.
The students were split into nine teams, each given a different industry and a scenario where they played the part of new employees with a mission to rebrand their company. They created business plans and logos, while each company had production, marketing and finance departments, as well as a CEO.
Albany High School sophomore Haley Knauf has plans to pursue a business degree after high school and said it was difficult managing finances for a company, compared to doing it on a smaller scale. Her company was an outdoor business, and her team decided they wanted to focus on outdoor shoes in New York City.
"It's giving them a chance to stick their toes in the water and see 'Is this really for me?'" said Jack Orton, director of the WMC Business World program. "We talk about everything from the free market system to Wisconsin's rich history as a manufacturing powerhouse."
Another group including Nicholas Blumer, a senior at Monticello High School, came up with a towel rack that not only dries towels but simultaneously cleans them.
"It was good learning to work with a random group of people you've never met," Blumer said.
The teams built their companies throughout the day, listening to lectures and participating in hands-on activities, such as a "The Price is Right" game where the theme is Wisconsin products and companies.
At the end of the day, the students' teachers were the judges in a "Shark Tank" presentation. Each group gave a short presentation on their company's product - how much it costs and how they came up with it. The winners receive scholarships to attend the WMC Business World summer program, which is essentially the same experience but extended over the course of four days.
"Today is very much a thought experiment," Orton said. "It's very much about introducing the kids to what opportunities are available to them outside of high school, whether that's the job market, college or a tech school of some kind."