Posted: 8/23/06
Local student learns about business
 Vincent Watson |
Vincent Watson, a student from North Branch High School, recently received scho-larship support from the Initiative Foundation to attend BestPrepís Minnesota Business Venture (MBV), Minneapolis, Minn., a career planning and financial literacy camp.ÝÝÝ
Approximately 300 Minnesota high school students from 100 high schools participated in MBV, held in partnership with the G.R. Herberger College of Business at St. Cloud State University and the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at St. Johnís University in Collegeville. The week focused on three important business components: starting a business, financial literacy, and in-depth career awareness.Ý
Volunteers from the business community, called Resident Business Leaders, mentored the students at camp. These volunteers, from companies such as Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Xcel Energy, Medtronic and Ecolab, lived on campus for the week and guided a small ěcompanyî of students through the curriculum and interactive activities.
Watson says, ěI liked how the camp just let the kids jump in their own fields. I also like all the different aspects of business we are learning about this week.î
ěMinnesota Business Venture is a unique opportunity for high school students to gain real life skills that will help them in their future. The interviewing skills, teamwork and communication developed during the week help students relate the educational content to the real work world,î said Andrea Hanson, Minnesota Business Venture program manager.Ý
At camp, students learned how to purchase and insure a car, manage money, and interview for a job. Forty-seven guest speakers and business executives volunteered to share their experiences and business prowess with Minnesotaís
future workforce. Volunteer speakers came from many companies including: Allstate Insurance, Best Buy, Boston Scientific, 3M, General Mills, Davanniís Pizza & Hot Hoagies, Freeze.com, College Nannies & Tutors, Game Informer Magazine, and Share Save Spend. Walter Bond of Walter Bond Seminars and ěFamousî Dave Anderson provided the motivational keynote addresses.
BestPrep has offered Minnesota Business Venture for 25 years, and has more than 8,500 alumni. For more information about BestPrep, MBV 2006 or 2007, please visit the Web site at www.bestprep.org or call (763) 398-0090.Ý
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