High school students show business acumen

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This article was published 13/05/2024 (690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sixteen high school students from across the province showcased their business acumen and personal finance prowess in the 2024 Manitoba High School Case Competition held on Friday and hosted by Assiniboine Community College’s Peters School of Business in collaboration with Fusion Credit Union.

The students, who presented innovative solutions to real-world business challenges, competed in the Entrepreneurship and Personal Finance categories.

In the Entrepreneurship Division, the team from West Kildonan Collegiate Winnipeg emerged victorious, claiming the first-place title. The winning trio comprised Sean Menezes, Abigail Bergagnini, and Everett Marion, who impressed the judges with their entrepreneurial acumen and strategic thinking.

Reflecting on their success, Menezes expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

“It’s been a fantastic experience, surrounded by like-minded individuals and facing intellectual challenges,” he told the Sun. “This is our second time. The first time, we competed in personal finance and placed third. Winning in the entrepreneurship category this time feels rewarding.”

“My teacher encouraged me to participate because she knows I am passionate about business. Initially, I wasn’t sure, but I decided to try, and I’m glad I did. I’m looking forward to competing more in university.”

Brandon’s Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School secured second and third place in the Entrepreneurship Division, with the teams led by Kate Marshall, Jordyn Rowan, and Saphire Nadeau securing second place. At the same time, Paisley Thiele, Diego Angel-Traverse and Hannah LeBlanc clinched the third-place position.

In the Personal Finance category, Crocus Plains continued its winning streak, with Beverley Mahoney, Ashnoor Kalra, and Preston Clipping claiming the top spot. Their comprehensive understanding of financial concepts and strategic planning earned them the coveted first-place title.

Shelby Nowosad, Anika Conde, and Kendra Dale from Hamiota Collegiate secured the second-place position in the Personal Finance Division, showcasing their financial literacy and analytical skills.

Crocus Plains once again demonstrated its prowess in financial management, with Ethan Fulford, Niranjana Sunnasy, and Kalie Innes securing the third-place position in the Personal Finance Division.

Peters School of Business academic chair Geoff Milne said the annual event marked a significant milestone as it witnessed the full management of the competition by the college.

“The feedback from the judges today has been that they are shocked that these are high school students, especially some of them in those early grades, Grade 9 and 10,” he told the Sun. “They can’t believe the quality of presentations that they’re putting together, as their poise and presentation skills exceeded expectations.”

Milne said 10 entrepreneurship teams and six personal finance teams took part in the competition, adding the judges evaluated their presentations based on a rubric that assessed the student’s understanding of the cases provided by the college, problem identification, solution proposals, risk assessment and final recommendations.

“While each participating student gets a $1,500 tuition credit they can put towards tuition, the finalists get another $2,500 in tuition credits,” he said. “The winners will have up to $4,000 in tuition credits for their education in the School of Business.”

The competition, he said, not only provided a platform for students to showcase their talents but also offered valuable opportunities for learning and networking.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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