Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
MITCHELL – Two high schools from the Radius Indiana region were among four high schools that were named winners of the 2024 Conexus Indiana Student Industries Case Competition, each school received a cash prize.
White River Valley’s Wolverine Enterprises and Mitchell High School’s Cement City Industries earned cash awards to support their School-based Enterprise (SBE), an in-school entrepreneurial advanced manufacturing and logistics business that is managed and operated by students.
Competing schools were divided into two groups for judging, with first and second place awarded to each group. First place winners will receive a $6,000 cash prize to support their SBE and second place winners will receive a $4,000 cash prize.
WRV’s Wolverine Enterprises was awarded first place. Students Myah Stewart, Brayden Borders and Max Hostetter presented a business case to diversify WE’s retail locations by adding a permanent storefront in the high school called Wolverine Warehouse.
“We need a school store because we had a problem getting the product to the customer. If we have the store, it’s always there and we can move it around to sporting events or other areas where we need it,” said Hostetter, CEO of Wolverine Enterprises.
The goal is for the store to be up and running in the fall of 2024. Katelyn Thomas, program director of Wolverine Enterprises, said the program involves about 75 students – all juniors and seniors – and covers six different business lines. A logistics team of students provides leadership and vision.
WE’s businesses are manufacturing, machining, agriculture, frozen foods, printing and fine arts.
Being part of the SBE has given the students real-world experience that is preparing them for college and careers.
Stewart, who is Wolverine Enterprises’ CFO, said the experience managing the group’s finances factored into her decision to study accounting in college.
Hostetter plans to study agribusiness.
“This has really helped me. Eventually I’ll be on a farm and have to sell grain to elevators and this has helped tremendously,” Hostetter said.
This is WE’s second cash prize from Conexus. In 2023, the SBE received second place and a $4,000 award, which was used to supplement student earnings.
“We’re very thankful for Conexus and their support to our student businesses by providing learning and networking opportunities for our kids. Receiving the award was a good confidence booster for them. It was so exciting to know that the work the students put in was recognized,” said Thomas.
Cement City Industries
MHS’s Cement City Industries was named a second-place winner. Students at Cement City Industries presented a business case that resulted in the launch of a sustainable product line, using leftover cardboard. Cement City Industries is in its first year of operation. The SBE provides a wide range of design and digital manufacturing services for its customers. The program also produces a better-functioning part for manufacturer Jasper Group.
The students operate a print shop, making posters for school teams and making laser-engraved promotional items.
About 20 students are involved in Cement City Industries. The SBE has a student CEO and branch managers. Teacher Mitch Reed oversees the operation.
During the virtual competition, students made a presentation to a panel of judges from Indiana industries.
Students were asked to identify a problem that they could solve with their student-run business.
Apryl Kidd, director of the Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell and Orleans Schools, said the students focused on the excess of cardboard the school has and how it could be re-used in a product.
One idea the students pitched was to use the surplus cardboard to make cat scratching posts.
For the student program to win in the program’s first year has given the students a boost of confidence, Kidd said.
“We’re a small group and they are just getting to see what a student-run business looks like,” Kidd said.
Cement City Industries has a CEO and branch managers. About 20 students participate.
Orleans High School, which is also a part of COSMOS, received a cash prize in last year’s Conexus case competition.
“The Case Competition, which is open to schools operating SBEs throughout the state, gives high schoolers a platform to showcase their practical decision-making and problem-solving skills,” said Kyle Marshall, senior director of talent programs at Conexus Indiana in a press release. “The competition also gives them an opportunity to present to and interact with a panel of industry leaders in Indiana – an opportunity they otherwise might not have while in high school.”
The other schools that received awards were Eastbrook High School in Marion and Perry Central High School in Leopold.
Judges for the competition came from industry, nonprofit and the public sector including Backhaul Direct, Mursix, Polygon Composites, Rolls-Royce, Ascend Indiana and the Department of Workforce Development.
Conexus Indiana Student Industries is a statewide network of high schools dedicated to developing advanced manufacturing and logistics talent through SBEs. In addition to the Case Competition, SBE partners participate in statewide meetings to share best practices and can apply for grants to support summer operations, purchase equipment or raw materials and create marketing materials. To learn more about Conexus Student Industries, visit www.conexusindiana.com/activate-talent/conexus-student-industries.