St. Charles County students attending Missouri Business Week were: Zach Guerrant, Monica
Martinez and Kirstyn Smith from Francis Howell North; Grace Semke and Bradley Wehmeier from Orchard Farm; Tim Stahlman and Logan Webb from St. Charles West; Ashylynn Bowder and Whitney Watson from Wentzville Holt; Lydia Farmer from Ft. Zumwalt West; and Angelique Rohlfing from Timberland. Applications are due to the school counselor in March for the next Missouri Business week. For more information go to the website at : www.missouribusinessweek.com
Local High School Students Attend Missouri Business Week (MBW)
Missouri Business Week (MBW) is an interactive summer conference for a maximum of 200 high school juniors and seniors from the state of Missouri that teaches the students how to manage and market a business in a very enjoyable environment. Student teams or “companies” are advised by business people who represent real estate, banking, insurance, tourism, manufacturing and other industries. Sponsored by the CENTER for Education & Private Enterprise (the CENTER), the not-for-profit foundation of the Missouri Association of REALTORS® , MBW is held annually at the University of Missouri in Columbia. It is a statewide program in every sense because REALTORS® and other business professionals from all over Missouri become involved with this major event.
All students attend on $450 scholarships, and REALTORS® not only donate to the scholarship fund but also assist the CENTER with raising money from a variety of companies. They help with recruiting students from their respective areas of the state and keep the interest going by networking with area schools. REALTORS® who actually participate on-site have the privilege of working with eager young learners that are opening their minds to future career options.
To simulate the business experience, the MBW student companies are involved with the management and marketing of imaginary retail products. Six companies make hats, the other six, T-shirts. The groups learn how to make management decisions by playing a computer game that follows the financial history of their products through eight business quarters. Marketing is accomplished through the production of 30-second television commercials, new business profile and web page designs . The energy and enthusiasm of the MBW students definitely make these experiences seem “real”. The “companies” become viable business teams, challenged to compete for the best bottom line and the best marketing strategies.
Missouri Business Week is co-sponsored by the College of Business of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Program Assistance is provided by the Missouri Department of Elementary and secondary Education (DESE) and The Education Department of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. The 2005 program was held June 26 - 30, 2005.
