What does a tomato fight, the Timberwolves, and the Salted Nut Roll bar have in common? They were all major topics presented to BestPrep’s 32nd annual Minnesota Business Venture.
“My week at MBV helped me cement together what I want to do with my life,” Falls High School student Kelsey Boeckermann said. “It made me a better person and it will help me be more successful in my future.”
MBV is a business and career skills program held in partnership with the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University and the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at St. John’s University. Over 350 students representing 102 schools took a week out of their summer to prepare for life after high school, learn how to start their own business, and improve their financial literacy skills.
More than 150 generous sponsors donated funds to support students’ attendance. Security State Bank of Warroad, The 3M Foundation, Allianz Life, Donaldson Foundation, Ecolab, McVay Foundation, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation made this opportunity available for Ashley-Rae Birnie, Kelsey Boeckermann, Kendal Johnson and Alisha Shoquist from Falls High School and Maria Lewis and Sofia Olesen from Indus High School.
Over 170 Minnesota entrepreneurs and business professionals volunteered to share their experiences and business insights with the future workforce. Students were met with a gamut of speakers from companies such as: College Nannies & Tutors, JK Clothing, the Midwest Tomato Festival, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Pearson’s Candy Company, and Share Save Spend.
Local business professionals, known as resident business leaders, served as mentors to the students throughout the program. These volunteers, from companies such as Allianz Life, Ameriprise Financial, Ecolab, Ernst & Young, Medtronic, Piper Jaffray, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Travelers and Xcel Energy, lived on campus for the week and guided a small “company” of students through the curriculum and interactive activities.
BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture has more than 10,000 program alumni. Andrea Hanson, Minnesota Business Venture’s director, said “Minnesota Business Venture is a unique opportunity for high school students to gain skills that will help them in their future. The interviewing, teamwork and communication skills developed during the week help prepare students for success in school and the work world.”
In addition to MBV, BestPrep offers five other innovative programs: Classroom Plus, eMentors, Financial Matters, The Stock Market Gameä and the Technology Integration Workshop.
For more information about BestPrep, MBV 2012 or MBV 2013, visit the website at www.bestprep.org or call 763-398-0090.
