Used with permission from Wahoo Newspaper • Wahoo, Nebraska
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 (Page 3A)
By Kelsi Martin
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WESTON- St. John Nepomucene sixth grade students are learning a lot about business.
According to Volunteer Consultant Eva Fujan, the young peOple have gotten their fill recently of how to conduct a business deaL
To practice their business skills, the students have been trying to gain sponsors whose names will appear on a t-shirt that is going to be made.
Even the process of choosing a t-shirt was a learning experience, Fujan said. "We go to a place where we can actually see the products being made," said student Haley Hain. "They also show us how we can design our logo," Fujan stated.
"They also get to see the software and how it works."
But perhaps the most important part of their learning experience has been gaining sponsors and money for their shirts.
According to student Devin Benes, soliciting the sponsors has been fun. For every sponsor who gives $250, they gain a place on the back of the class's t-shirt.
If a business gives $500, they get a larger space on the front of the shirt.
But the students have had to sell the positions to local businesses.
"We put graphics on the shirts that help the sponsors attract attention," said Benes.
He said that getting business owners to recognize the benefit has been a fun challenge.
"I think we've learned most about computers and teamwork," said Sam Maly.
Jon Matulka agreed. He said that learning how to add animated graphics could prove helpful in the future. "It attracts the people," he said.
Student Kristin Kliment said that learning how to communicate effectively has been good. The students practiced this communication at a special meeting on Nov. 18. Several area businessmen and women came to listen to a presentation on why they should sponsor the class's project.
School principal/superintendent Father Christopher Goodwin said that the students each demonstrated their natural gifts. "You have a sense of humor," he told the students. "That's good. You demonstrated you prepared for your presentation."
So far, the class has five or six sponsors. The class will sell their tshirts at sport events. The profits wiU be donated to the school. According to Fujan, they usually make $4,000 to $5,000.
