High schoolers mix business and pleasure at Wharton

You can mix business with pleasure. That's one of the messages sixty four high school students from all corners of Pennsylvania received at this year's Pennsylvania Governor's School for Business. The students, entering their high school senior years, spent five weeks at the Wharton School enjoying some hands-on business education, with all expenses paid by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The participants came from all corners of Pennsylvania. In the past, up to a third of the students in the program have gone on to attend the University. This year, the Governor's School received both a new director, Wharton Undergraduate Associate Director Elizabeth Bennett, and a programatic overhaul. "[In a] curricular sense, it's been much different than it has been in the past," Bennett said this week. Under the new curriculum, the program revolves around a simulation game on modern business decision making. In order to compete successfully in the game, students have taken short courses on a variety of business subjects, including Marketing, Finanace, Accounting, Management Science, Marketing, Communication, Business Law, and Business Ethics. Field trips have also played an important part in the high schoolers' crash course in commerce. On Tuesday, for example, students visited KYW television and radio, the Goldman Sachs and Co. investment house, Veteran's Stadium and The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. And to avoid all work and no play, the group has attended a Phillies game, travelled to Hersheypark and visited the New Jersey shore. Students also held a talent show and invited their favorite educators to campus for a "Teacher Appreciation Night." "The people are great, most of the teachers have been really good," said Cory Firestone, a particpant from Yardley, Pennsylvania. "From coming here I know I'm definitely interested in business." Despite the hectic schedules, Bennett said students have kept up and remained enthusiastic throughout the five weeks, and she will be sad to see them go. "[I'm] sad but tired," Bennett said. "I've really gotten very close to the students." "I've also looked exhausted seven days a week," she added.

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