Youth Entrepreneurs

Youth Entrepreneurs is a marketing course that focuses on preparing high school students for the real world of starting their own businesses. This includes topics like marketing, investing and entrepreneuring principles.

“This class was created by the Koch Brothers, who are located in Kansas, who are attempting to teach students aspects of business and creating products and services,” senior Anna Varney said.

This year-long class of 25 takes place during fifth hour where students work on hands-on tasks and their own projects.

A big goal of the class is developing the entrepreneurial spirit, which is a mindset that allows people to actively seek out change instead of waiting for change.

“We often do fun and interesting activities that are very group and team based to learn about entrepreneurship in the real world, as well as in our class,” Varney said.

Every student in the class is waiting in anticipation for the day where they can demonstrate and sell their projects: Market Day. Market Day is a day where the students set up “stores” in the cafeteria and sell their products during lunch and Liberty Hour.

Youth Entrepreneurs also allows students to earn their own money to spend on Auction Days. Auctions are where students can buy goods and products produced by other students in the program.

Youth Entrepreneurs teacher Scott Howard has advice for students thinking about taking the class.

“This class doesn’t have to be for people who want to be entrepreneurs,” Howard said. “It’s for anyone who wants to be in a business-related job.”

Interpersonal Development and Health

This is a one semester class with lifelong effects. Interpersonal Relationships and Health is a class dedicated to helping students manage their lives.

Currently, only a few students know about its existence. It’s offered third period and currently has 24 students enrolled.

“The goal of this class is to help prepare students to find successes after high school in all realms of their lives,” FACS teacher Shannon Jensen said.

The class includes topics like managing a balance between career and family. Other topics help students communicate to find middle ground, build character and manage stress to help students learn to cope with all that life offers.

Goal setting, career planning and choosing educational programs for after high school are also discussed to help students plan their adult lives.

“The topics and assignments are centered specifically around the students and their own personal goals,” Jensen said. “I feel like it’s a little bit unique compared to other classes. In other words no two students have the same answer to the same question.”

Senior Bree Martin agrees.

“I don’t think there are many classes like this one,” Martin said. “Classes that will prepare you for your life no matter what you’re doing with it – other classes prepare you for just the next level class.”

Fashion Merchandise

One of the new classes is Fashion Merchandise and the teacher, Marla Badalucco, is excited to start this new year with a new class.

Right now, the class is offered for one period only, during first hour and only has 12 students. Every grade level is allowed to take the class, either as a year-long or a semester-long class.

“I have a degree in Textile and Apparel Management with an emphasis in Merchandising,” Badalucco said. “This is a class to give students hands-on experience on numerous aspects of the merchandising and marketing industry.”

The class has been coming up with designs for a new store name, which is The Spirit Stop. The store is located by the bathrooms in the cafeteria and they have been getting the merchandise ready for football games.

“Students seem to enjoy the class even though it’s a lot of work,” Badalucco said.

“They have to work so hard to get the designs and merchandise ready. The goal for this class is to make merchandise that people will want to buy.”

Sports Marketing 3

Third time’s the charm for a Sports Marketing class.

“The district started the class at both high schools when we started acquiring Blue Jay Nation sponsors, seeing an opportunity for students to get first hand experience partnering with community businesses,” teacher Sarah Havermann said.

From the beginning of the Sports Marketing classes, the courses were in high demand.

“The first year I had six students in Sports Marketing 2,” Havermann said.“This year we have over 40.”

There are 3 different types of sports marketing classes.

“Sports 1 is a semester long class. Sports 2 can be a semester or year long depending on the student schedule availability and Sports 3 is a year,” Havermann said.

In this new class they focus on social media marketing, game production, graphics, promotions and sponsor relations.

Many students have started to become more interested in this class because they get to design spirit clothes for students to wear to games.

“Five of the six classes I teach this semester are sports marketing but it changes every year depending on enrollment,” Havermann said. “We typically have about 100 kids in Sports 1 every year and 20 to 40 in Sports 2. This is the first year for Sports 3 and we have nine in that class.”

LHS has a lot of school spirit and sports marketing is a good way to help show it. At the football games they have started to sell shirts and food as well.