From Feb. 3 through 5, Virtual Enterprise (V.E.) students attended their first regional trade show in Bakersfield as part of a three-day trip. The event brought together 98 schools from across California, giving students the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and simulated businesses they have been developing since the beginning of the school year.
Virtual Enterprise is a business class where students create and operate an original business as if it were a real company. Students must manage finances, web design, human resources, and the IT department while holding specific roles such as CEO, Head of Marketing, Chief Operations Officer, Banking Manager, Sales Associates, and so on. This class is meant to challenge the structure of a traditional class. Rather than relying on the teacher’s instructions, students are responsible for delegating tasks and collaborating as a team.
Six students from the small V.E. class attended the trade show to introduce their simulated business, “NomaBag,” a smart-tech and eco-friendly bag company.
Giovanni Orozco (12), CEO of the simulated company “NomaBag” said, “This class challenges the format of a traditional class. Not many classes give you the opportunity to learn about running a business, collaborating, and an opportunity to meet with schools across California. You must have discipline and commitment to take this class, but the trip is very rewarding.”
The first night focused on settling in at the Marriott hotel attached to Dignity Health Arena. The second day included booth setup, competitions, and an evening of recreation, where all 98 teams were invited to a bowling alley featuring arcade games, laser tag, and a complimentary dinner.
The third day was dedicated to the trade show, during which a simulated sales session took place. Students were able to make purchases from other businesses with fake credit cards. Students were to either remain at their booths to pitch their products to judges and students or walk around promoting their business. Each group was then evaluated on their sales abilities, business pitches, and booth design. Many groups used fun methods to draw more traffic and engage with potential customers, such as raffle prizes, free samples, and walking around with costumes and eye-catching posters.
The top eight ranked schools in each respective category were chosen to compete in the National Virtual Enterprise Competition in New York. Even though “NomaBag” did not place, it was an unforgettable experience.
Jessica Ortiz (12), Head of Marketing said her favorite part of the trip was interacting with new people and making friends. She met people from LA and Northern California who flew in just to attend the event. Ortiz enjoyed being able to see all the different ideas and innovations on display, as well as the recreational night at the arcade.
Virtual Enterprise facilitator, Ms. Stephanie Austin said that students learn irreplaceable skills through this class. She hopes that students interested in the business field will choose Virtual Enterprise next year.
