Palletable Projects, a Junior Achievement company formed by 23 students from the Weyburn Comprehensive School, has been selected as the recipient of the 2015 Canadian Chamber of Commerce Company of the Year Award.
The award is based on a number of criteria, including attendance of team members, even distribution of sales among all members, teamwork, financial records and return on investment.
As students in the Junior Achievement company program, the team had to develop a product or service, name it, market their product and run their venture like a company. The team decided upon unique, custom-made home decor signs, shelves, wall hooks and fire-pit chairs made from barn wood and recycled pallets. The goal of their company, Palletable Projects was to lessen their environmental footprint by using recycled materials.
The concept was a hit, generating many sales that returned a cash dividend to each student shareholder and enabled the company to donate $500 to two worthy Weyburn non-profit organizations - The Humane Society and The Family Place. Earlier in June in Regina, the team, led by its student co-presidents Hannah Hextall and Kauron Kooper, were honoured with Junior Achievement of Saskatchewan awards for Company of the Year, Product Design, and individual awards for Spirit of JA (Jonjie Fellner) and Salesperson of the Year (Emma Chuckry).
“It wasn't hard to motivate and guide the talents of this team as they were highly motivated to succeed on their own,” said their teacher, Margot Arnold. “This JA venture provided the opportunity for my students to learn about all aspects of business. They were anxious and eager to learn all they could about starting and running their own company. With each product created, it inspired the company members to improve and develop their creative skills, making each product more outstanding than the last. It was a real-life experience that prepared them for the world of business.”
Darren Hill, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Saskatchewan, says the national award speaks to the quality of JA programs for elementary and high school students throughout the province.
“Our outstanding teachers, advisors and mentors, including businesses and financial institutions, help us deliver unique learning and experiences that inspire and benefit students throughout their lives. More and more forward-thinking communities like Weyburn are asking for these programs, and with the help of our sponsors we are striving to meet that demand.”
The WCS students involved in Palletable Projects were: Khalil Anderson, Anna Beach, Hailey Boustead, Emma Chuckry, Hailey Clarke, Kauron Cooper, Jamie Deis, Hunter Dugan, Bethea Dultra, Jonjie Fellner, Kyle Frison, Hannah Hextall, Tanner Jensen, Maison Laird, William Ley, Gaege Mallory, Joyce Meija, Zach Neilmeyer, Karina Peterson, Chantel Ross, Austin Schlacter, Daylan Swanson and Logan White.
