Sugar Grove – Four Waubonsee Business Club members recently participated in the Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Business Olympics Competition held on April 6 in DeKalb. This marks the first time a registered student organization at Waubonsee has ever participated in a four-year university business competition, providing valuable business skills for the Business Club. The club is now preparing to compete in the statewide SkillsUSA competition which will be held in Peoria on April 26.
Waubonsee's Business Club Faculty Advisors and Instructors, Dr. Nour Al Naber and Andy Clements, believe the student's intrinsic motivation to prepare for these competitions is impressive, and they are excited to see them advance.
"Preparing for both NIU and SkillsUSA offers great practical experience for the students, as they had to draft a business plan and apply everything they've learned in class. They had to think outside the box and communicate outside the classroom," said Dr. Al Naber.
At SkillsUSA, the Business Club members must convince a panel of judges that their idea is worth investing in based on their business plan and projected financials.
Clements expressed pride in his students for their success. "I'm very proud of our students, as I've had many of these students in my classes. Reaching this moment has taken two years of hard work."
Dressed in professional business suits, the Business Club students have practiced their pitch with great enthusiasm for Dr. Al Naber and Clements on the Sugar Grove Campus several weeks before SkillsUSA, dedicating their weekends to refining their base pitch repeatedly. If they win the state championship, they will advance to SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta, GA.
Ryan Fotre, the student President of the Waubonsee Business Club in Sugar Grove, stated that the group was motivated to launch a business that could aid in reducing the number of small businesses going out of business in the U.S.
The students decided to create a subscription service using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help small businesses stay afloat. Fotre explained that 75% of companies cease operations within 15 years. "Even if we don't win, we still want this idea to become a real business," said Fotre.
Fotre, along with many other Business Club members, is a full-time student enrolled in six classes this spring, works part-time, and juggles numerous responsibilities, including late nights and long hours on the weekends. Despite his busy schedule, he is planning to transfer to NIU to study Business Administration and pursue his goal of becoming an entrepreneur. He is also excited about SkillsUSA. Fotre credits Dr. Al Naber and Clements for providing him with the tools he needs to make the Business Clubs’ idea a reality.
Clements believes Waubonsee's business transfer degree pathway prepares students well for the present realities of entrepreneurship and the business world. "By incorporating entrepreneurship into the core program, we're preparing them for the next level, a four-year institution or a place of work."
“It's great if they win at SkillsUSA. However, the extensive amount of time the Business Club students have spent on this project is a win in my eyes," said Dr. Al Naber.
Over the years, Waubonsee has earned a solid reputation in SkillsUSA regionally and nationally. At the 2022 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, Waubonsee graduate Liam Richardson, of Sugar Grove, was named the SkillsUSA National Champion in Automotive Service Technology.
In addition to the eight members of the Business Club participating in SkillsUSA, 26 students enrolled in Waubonsee’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs will also participate in various competitions, including CNC, Automotive Refinishing, Automotive Service Technology, Collision Repair, Diesel Equipment Technology, and Sheet Metal.
SkillsUSA Illinois is a membership association that operates at the state and national levels for college, high school, and middle school students preparing for trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.
