March 9, 2016 -- Heights High School’s Marketing Management students have been expanding their horizons while interacting with and learning from several Junior Achievement volunteers at Heights High. The Marketing Management students learn about thinking critically, communicating and resolving conflict with others, practicing soft skills that are necessary in today’s work environment, and lastly; how to “brand” themselves when seeking employment and succeeding in the workplace.
Mrs. Kim McCann is a CH-UH parent, community member and PNC Bank employee. Mrs. McCann taught the Marketing Management Junior class during the month of September. She taught the class seven lessons from Junior Achievement’s “Career Success” program. Mrs. McCann became involved with Junior Achievement so that she could give back to her community.
Three local attorneys were generous enough to donate their time to teach throughout the months of January and February. The attorneys taught the Junior Achievement’s “Personal Finance” program to the students.
Mrs. Laura Hong is an attorney and University Heights resident. Mrs. Hong is a Business Litigator from the law firm Tucker Ellis and spoke to the students about the effect their educational choices will have on their lifetime earnings. Students were eager to see the differences in earnings that are given to someone who earns a high school diploma versus someone who graduates from a four year college.
Mr. Scott Kahn is an attorney from the law firm KAHN/KRUSE and a local community member. Mr. Kahn shared with the students the importance of saving and budgeting. Mr. Kahn also shared his background with the students and discussed the time and effort it takes to earn not only a four year college degree, but also a law degree. Mr. Kahn worked full time while taking classes at Cleveland- Marshall College of Law. He then made his presentation interactive and played a game related to budgeting. Mr. Kahn was extremely helpful, and before leaving he offered to answer any other questions the students had about pursuing a law degree.
Mrs. Saber Vandetta is in the house council for Progressive Insurance located in Mayfield. Mrs. Vandetta taught the remaining personal finance lessons related to credit usage and becoming a “savvy consumer.” Upon completion of the last lesson, Mrs. Vandetta answered questions pertaining to criminal and civil law. The students enjoyed listening to the stories Mrs. Vandetta shared about real life criminal and civil court cases. After spending time with the three attorneys, several students expressed an interest in entering the legal profession, whether it be as a paralegal, legal secretary or lawyer.
This month, the Marketing Management students are working with two Business students, Roserita DiMillo and Hope Uwase, from John Carroll University. DiMillo and Uwase are teaching the Junior Achievement’s “Entrepreneurship” program. The John Carroll students come every Wednesday morning to lead the Marketing Management students in various entrepreneurship lessons and interactive activities. This program is helping the students realize that by creating a product of service that is not available in the marketplace but is needed, has its risks. They realize that it can also have the potential to become extremely popular and make a lot of money.
Lastly, the Junior Achievement program will teach an “Economics” program during the spring. This will be the last program for the 2015-2016 school year. Samantha and Cassandra Mattix, former students of Mrs. Parker from North Ridgeville, will be training with Junior Achievement employees. They will then prepare for their classroom visits during the months of April and May.
The students earn a certificate signed by the volunteers and Mrs. Parker for each Junior Achievement program completed. Each Marketing Management junior will have four certificates to add to their career portfolio, which will be created during their senior year.