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RELEASED: July 22, 2004
DANVILLE, KY—Governor's Scholars in teacher Roy Limpawuchara’s business and economics class are learning the basics of business by starting their own.
“B&E Souvenirs” sells lanyards, water bottles and photo CDs with pictures of GSP events to the scholars on Centre’s campus.
I thought it was going to be more book learning,? says Scholar Ryan Hunton. ?But they really teach you what’s going to be out there, the problems that come up with business and how to handle them.
The class is looking at the fundamentals of running a successful business and is divided into four groups: accounting, finance, production and marketing.
"This class takes a hands-on approach to business and what it’s like to be involved in the business world," Limpawuchara says.
So far the students have grossed $1,622 by selling merchandise to their fellow scholars and hope to sell more. The profits will be donated back to the Governor’s Scholars Program.
“I was surprised at how easy it was to start our own business,” Beth Lewis says. “It takes a lot of cooperation and effort, but I was surprised it was even possible.”
The students are also learning about the stock market and investing.
Scholars read The Investment Guide for Teens by David and Tom Gardner of National Public Radio’s Motley Fool show, and they play a stock market game with $50,000 of play money. The Scholars divided into groups of two and invest their money in the stock market. The pair that makes the most money—or loses the least—will win a prize at the end of the program.
“This has sparked my interest in the stock market and investing,” Benjamin Gowen says.
Limpawuchara says the main goal is for the students to learn to be responsible for their money and think about the future.
“This class has made me determined to learn how to invest money,” Mandy Gray says.
The associates of B&E Souvenirs have an infinitely better idea of what it takes to run a successful company, and they might even go into business for themselves one day.
“Now that I’ve had this experience I might consider starting my own business or major in business in college,” Hunton says.
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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/
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