Recent History – 2002
June 17, 2002
By Megan Kane and Bryna Casey, SPSS Reporters
The Entrepreneurship 12 class has won an award for Outstanding Teamwork from Junior Achievement (JA), a well-known non-profit organization that facilitates business and leadership education around the world.
SPSS was just one of the four high school teams of many competing to win a provincial award last week at the annual Junior Achievement of B.C. awards ceremonies in Burnaby.
Finance Manager David Meunier accepted the award, sponsored by CIBC, via telephone on behalf of the class. A trophy will be presented to the students next week.
“They (the students in the class) should be proud of themselves,” says teacher Brian Shaw. “They’ve done a super job of selling customized graduation sweatshirts and organizing for a rock concert. Because it is a small class they have all had to take an active role in helping each other to get things done.”
The team of seven ambitious students consists of: Megan Fossum (CEO), David Meunier (Finance Manager), Jason Jardine (Marketing Manager), Jase Wilson (Management Team Leader), Ken Walsh (Production Manager), Cliff Burton (Marketing Manager) and Andrew Neis (Production Manager).
The class has been operating a business called 36 Each (so-named because each partner had to contribute $36 for start-up costs) chartered through JA. The Kiwanis Enterprise Centre has contributed space, equipment, and much support to the students, and local businessman and consultant Paul De Costa has given his advice.
After conducting feasibility studies and market research, students focused on setting up the two ventures.
They persevered to sell 75 pre-ordered graduation sweatshirts in three weeks (out of a total market of 180). The products will be received and distributed soon.
SummerRock Stock 2002 is a concert of local bands for SPSS students that will be held at The Crest theatre this Saturday (June 15) from 4-8 p.m. Tickets are $6 and must be purchased in advance. The event will have food on site for sale and will be similar to Grad Fest, with no re-entry after leaving and no smoking permitted.
Bands include Choopa Cobra, Total Human Chaos, and Green Eggs and Ham. SPSS students may tickets outside the concession at lunch this week since there will be no sales at the door.
Cliff Burton says the course has been a good experience for him: “I get to interact with other people and to learn about business and how things work.”
Entrepreneurship 12 is an “exciting way to learn business by doing business,” adds Shaw. “It’s about taking a ‘can-do’ attitude, being self-directed to make things happen, and learning employability skills.”
While students donât expect to make a huge amount of money, they get to keep any commissions and profits they make beyond expenses.