Recently the Engler College of Business held three Buff Business Summits for area high school seniors. The goal is to attract and recruit new business students in a fun and entertaining way that also highlights the disciplines we teach. The events were held on December 1st, 5th, and 8th in Legacy Hall.
The event was organized by Gina Woodward, Executive Director of the WT Enterprise Center in Amarillo and Instructor of Management, with Dr. Robert King, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and Dr. Marisa Crisostomo, Clinical Assistant Professor of Decision Management, emceeing. In its third rendition, the Summits were launched in Fall 2024, held again last Spring, and then recast this Fall to be an annual event only.
Faculty members from across the disciplines took turns speaking in this tightly scheduled production. In the span of 20 minutes, the professors spoke briefly about the types of jobs available for graduates in their field, as well as the basics of their discipline. The bulk of the time was spent engaging the audience members with an activity that illustrated the kinds of things professionals do. Students at each table worked as a team in some instances, while in others worked solo.
The faculty segments were lively, and included a musical backdrop of their choice. In some regards each one was “edutainment,” with faculty presenting knowledge and activities in a way that was highly accessible and relatable to audience members. For example, Dr. Sean Humpherys led students in the “production” of airplanes–paper ones, naturally–and the challenges of maintaining quality control as well as managing the supply chain to meet demand.
Dr. Oscar Solis allotted students a set amount of fictional money, and had them invest it across three companies. Students were asked one at a time to draw a paper slip from a basket with a variety of possible market outcomes, including losing everything, doubling money, and holding steady. The process was repeated two more times, with the student having the most net worth winning a prize.
Dr. Nick Gerlich led students in perceptual branding, taking a standard bottled water and branding it as an exotic beverage that retailed for $100. Students created the brand name, wrote a tag line, and illustrated a logo. Ms. Lisa Lightfoot showcased a Financial Survival Simulation, while Dr. David Howe, Associate Professor of Management, provided an exercise in team Management.
After lunch, Woodward introduced the Reverse Challenge. The four business owners were introduced, along with several alumni and partner mentors. Students were tasked with acting as consultants for a business challenge provided to them in a packet that contained not only the “problem,” but also sufficient business information from which they could act upon. Students then presented their pitch to the business owner in just four minutes, followed by two minutes of Q&A. They were then judged. Finally. Dr. Jillian Yarbrough, Assistant Dean, Clinical Assistant & Virginia Engler Professor of Business Management, announced the winners of scholarships and merchandise.
Support from local schools was strong. This Fall, Canyon High School, Randall High School, AmTech Career Academy, Caprock High School, West Plains High School, and Palo Duro High School participated. The focus this time was juniors and seniors only, while earlier versions of the Summits attracted high school students at all four levels.
“The high school faculty started calling us at the beginning of the semester asking to participate again, at the request of students who previously attended. These have been a great way to of course recruit students, but also build our relationship with high school faculty and provide their students with highly interactive education that lines up with what they’re teaching in class,” Woodward says.
Student guests went home with more than just a day-long immersion into the Engler College of Business. Competitions that pitted them against one another put them in front of area business owners, who served as judges. Winning teams earned significant scholarships.
“Aside from the session prizes (candy, WT cookie cake, cookies from Dirty Dough which is owned by a high school student), the main prize was related to the competition. Four businesses participated on each date and a winning team (teams are four students) was chosen for each one. Each student on those teams received a $500 scholarship to COB. A total of $24,000 in scholarships was awarded.”
The benefits did not end there, though. “The competition has helped build the COB’s reputation among the local business community, allowing them to meet faculty and positioning us as a resource for assistance and support,” she continues. And the best part? Some of the students were so impressive that they received job offers. Last Spring, she says, “Some of the students did such a good job that they received job offers from their respective business.”
Because the College of Business typically does not see many of its declared majors until they are juniors, the College expects to start seeing the fruits of its labors in the next year, and then every semester thereafter. By means of an engaging experience on campus, the College is hopeful that the seeds planted this December will sprout soon enough.