Cookeville High School’s Virtual Enterprise class has been ranked one of the top 150 firms in the nation.
The class is an online business simulation where students take on the roles of a standard company. Business Teacher Judy Henry said the firm made of 16 students is named, “Pandora’s Box.”
“We create our own business, and the students are divided up into various groups,” Henry said. “Like in a company with marketing, administration, human resources, sales and marketing and then we have a CEO. And, we sell and trade throughout the school year with other students across the country and around the world.”
Henry said in order to be ranked, certain benchmarks must be met. These range from processing payroll, drafting an executive business summary and competing between other firms.
“Students design their logo. They design their motto. We design a website,” Henry said. “We do everything that you will actually do in a company. We write our business plan. We write our marketing plan. We write everything. We compete through various competition every year.”
Henry said the firm’s product rotates annually with students picking outdoor recreation gear this school year. Henry said Pandora’s Box has been in business for 12 years now with a value of $2.5 million in the simulation.
“Last year, we only got top 200, so for us to get top 150 this year, we are super excited,” Henry said. “Now, it goes from top 150 to top 50. (…) We are definitely going to try to break top 50.”
The class is offered as an honors economic credit with about 15 students each year, Henry said. Over 7,000 students and 40 different countries compete. Henry said the class received honorable mentions nationally for its branding campaign and elevator pitch, but the competition is not over.
Henry said the class has been invited to the second round for national marketing and national quick books competitions this spring. Virtual Enterprises International is in charge of the distinctions.
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