McHenry County College (MCC) recently welcomed local high school students for a variety of academic competitions. The competitions help students experience college level courses, apply their skills to real life scenarios, and allow them to visit MCC’s campus and meet faculty.
On Friday, April 12, 65 area high school students participated in the 13th annual Marketing Challenge, which invites students to create marketing plans for a local business. This year’s event was sponsored by the University Center at McHenry County College, a new educational facility that will allow students to earn a bachelor’s or advanced degree close to home through partnerships with four-year universities.
As part of this year’s challenge, students presented ideas on how to attract high school graduates to the University Center at MCC, as well as ways to generate more awareness among high schoolers and their parents about University Center programs and partnerships. The students were judged on the quality of their presentations, the creativity of their solutions, and teamwork.
Six area high schools participated this year: Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake Central, Woodstock North, Woodstock High School, and Marengo High School.
In third place was Prairie Ridge Team 2 led by teacher Bryan Peckhart. Students on the team included Addison Gertz, Marissa Taege, and Purva Patel. Coming in second place was Cary-Grove Team 3, led by teacher Theresa Miller. The team was comprised of students Leo Petropoulos and Reece Ihenacho. Earning first place in the competition was Cary-Grove Team 2, also led by teacher Theresa Miller. Students on the team included Claire Etter, Abigail Krempasky, Isabella Airhart, and Grace Kaiser.
“I’m proud of our students for being able to take the skills they learned in the classroom and apply them to the real world,” said Theresa Miller, who teaches consumer education and dual credit business and marketing classes at Cary-Grove High School. “I am thankful that McHenry County College continually offers our students the opportunity to demonstrate their potential to excel in the field of marketing.”
On Friday, April 19, 116 students from Johnsburg, Harvard, McHenry Community, Woodstock North, Crystal Lake South, and Huntley High Schools participated in the Accounting Encounter, a competition that asks teams of students to answer a series of timed accounting-related questions to earn points. The students got a chance to experience friendly competition in accounting principles while working in teams in a college environment.
Huntley High School took home first and second place, while Crystal Lake South won third place.
On Monday, May 6, the College hosted Entrepreneurship Pitch Night, a chance for McHenry County high school students compete to present the best and most innovative business ideas. The students are currently enrolled in MCC’s BUS160 Introduction to Entrepreneurship dual credit courses.
First place was awarded to Prairie Ridge High School and instructor Bryan Peckhart for their wet sock solution, Dry Stride. Second place was awarded to McHenry High School and instructor Erin Harris for Retrofitters, which challenged the audience to “rethink donating that old blanket in the attic.” Third place was awarded to Marian Central Catholic High School and their instructor Joe White for Got Mail. The People’s Choice Award, voted on by audience members, was given to McHenry High School for Retrofitters.
Prairie Ridge students Joe Gola, Avery McAllister, Peyton Barr, and Dom Creatore were each given gold medals and awarded a three-credit MCC college course certificate.
MCC’s Business/Marketing Department is an active partner with the county’s Dual Credit program, which allows high school students to take college-level courses in their high school classrooms and earn college credits.
Find more on MCC’s Accounting, Business, and Marketing programs.