Competition Summary

Co-Chairs Brodie J. Caverhill and Gabriel A. Cicchi

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Contents

PURPOSE ............................................................................................................. 3

OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................... 3

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ................................................................................... 4

CASE CHALLENGE .............................................................................................. 4

PROJECTED DATES ............................................................................................ 4

THE ROLE OF BUSINESS HEAD / TEACHER .................................................... 5

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS ............................................................................... 6

SPONSORS .......................................................................................................... 6

CONTACTS ........................................................................................................... 7

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PURPOSE

The High School Business Heroes program was created by McMaster University as an outreach activity to engage local youth and communicate the value of post-secondary education in Commerce / Business. It is run by the students of the DeGroote School of Business who act as mentors for high school students in the community. OVERVIEW · This program targets students in their senior years at secondary school from

either the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, or Hillfield Strathallan College.

· Students are presented a case challenge based on a main sponsor and asked to

create a marketing strategy. · A report would then be compiled of primary and secondary research to support

their approach. · The top 5 teams would be selected to present their findings and pitch to a panel

of judges, and compete for cash prizes plus the title of High school Business Heroes.

· For the last four years, this program has played an important role in furthering the

experiential aspect of students’ education. · Information regarding the competition will be distributed to the “Head of

Business” within the high school before February 6th. · An alternate business teacher may volunteer to run or co-run this competition

with the business head in their school (i.e. DECA coach). · Students will organize in groups of two to four and register through the school

representative, as well as the online forms, by February 17th at 11:59pm. There is an unlimited cap as to how many teams may register.

· Each school will be assigned a minimum of one undergraduate mentor from the

DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University.

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· The Top 5 teams, as selected by the HSBH executive team, will be accepted into

phase two of the competition: presentations. Phase two commences at the closing ceremonies on March 31 where the Top 5 teams will pitch their strategy to a panel of judges.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM · Each high school student team is mentored by a student currently enrolled in the

Bachelor of Commerce program at the DeGroote School of Business. · Mentors are chosen based on past employment, leadership and voluntary

experience, commitment, and availability. · All mentors are provided training in regards to the program’s vision, goals,

guidelines, and processes. CASE CHALLENGE

This year’s challenge is to develop a marketing strategy to sell the experience of the Hamilton Bulldogs and increase arena attendance for 2013.

You will conduct research into the Bulldog’s past, present, and future along with

gathering the opinions of high school students to further understand what best attracts youth to the hockey games. PROJECTED DATES In-School Presentations: · Date(s): February 6- March 2, 2012.

Deadline for team sign up: · Date: Monday, March 2, 2012 · Time: 11:59pm · Location: Online (HSBH Website)

Seminar 1: · Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 · Time: 5:30-7pm · Location: DSB 505 (DeGroote School of Business) · Speaker: Arnie Strubb

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Seminar 2: · Date: Monday, March 12, 2012 · Time: 5:30-7pm · Location: DSB 505 · Speaker: Ines Perkovic and James Maxwell

Reports Due: · Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 · Time: 12pm · Location: Online (HSBH Email)

Seminar 3 (tentative): · Date: Monday, April 2, 2012 · Time: 5:30-7pm · Location: DSB 505 · Top 5 team announced. · Reports handed back & feedback given. · Presentation from various DCS clubs &/ committees

Closing Ceremonies (tentative): · Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012 · Time: 10am-2pm · Location: McMaster (exact venue TBA) · High School Business Heroes announced!

THE ROLE OF BUSINESS HEAD / TEACHER As the business head you may choose to be the primary contact in this competition for your school. If however, a fellow business teacher would like to take charge, he or she may do so. Please inform us if this is the case. As the primary contact: · You will receive promotional material. · You will choose a student to help showcase the material in your school (hallways

and classrooms) in order to create interest and invite participation · You will also act as an advisor to your school’s teams alongside your designated

mentor.

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· You may arrange for the mentor (with additional presenters) to come to your

school to either present in a general assembly, which is preferred, or attend business classes.

· In addition to either of these options, it would be greatly appreciated if mentors

could hold an info desk in the school’s lobby. · You will receive both a copy of the task and additional information regarding

judging criteria, rules, regulations, and standard procedures. · Feel free to involve local media to promote your students’ involvement,

commitment and success in the competition. PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS Every school will be provided with the following material: · Posters

· HSBH information audio clip

· HSBH promo video

SPONSORS

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CONTACTS Please direct questions to the following contacts:

• Executive Email: hsbh@mcmaster.ca • Mandeep Malik, Assistant Professor

905.525.9140 ext. 23972 malikm@mcmaster.ca • Brodie Caverhill, Co-Chair

289.925.5771

caverbj@mcmaster.ca • Gabriel Cicchi, Co-Chair

905.973.0440 cicchiga@mcmaster.ca • Alanna Dewan and Heather LoPresti, Head Mentors headmentors.hsbh@gmail.com