We are highlighting all of the programs at Sanford Regional Technical Center. Read more about the Academy of Business Program:
What are the main objectives of the program?
Students enrolled in the Academy of Business program at Sanford Regional Technical Center have the opportunity to earn high school elective credits focusing on a wide variety of business concepts before leaving high school. Along with those high school credits, students may also earn up to 15 college credits through a dual enrollment program at Thomas College. Many students leave SRTC to go on to college with more than an entire semester of college completed before leaving high school.
How does the program incorporate hands-on learning and practical experience?
During the first year in the program, students help with marketing for all of SRTC regarding program recruitment. In the past, they have created electronic sign boards that are displayed at the beginning of each wing. This year, they may help individual programs with flyers to utilize when sophomores tour the center.
During both years of the program, students participate in a statewide business challenge that Junior Achievement sponsors called the Titan Challenge. The Academy of Business has previously won the Southern Maine regional challenge and earned scholarship prizes.
Seniors are currently involved in the Wharton Business School Global Investment Challenge. Two teams are representing SRTC and are not only tracking stocks over a ten-week period but also have to develop a strategic plan to report on in the competition.
The culminating project for the program is the senior business plan, which incorporates all aspects of the program into creating a plan of their choice. At the end of the year, the plans go for a final evaluation outside of the program to the Sanford-Springvale Area Chamber of Commerce, which awards cash scholarships to the highest-ranking plans.
What resources and equipment are available to students in the program?
Along with focusing on business concepts, students also earn college credit in computer applications and technology, as they are exposed to online learning through a business simulation module.
Students are assigned a mentor from CEI (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.) during their senior year to work with them on their business plans and provide guidelines to them. Students can meet with their mentor through a ZOOM meeting. This has proved to be a very positive experience for both the students and the mentors.
Students can participate in SkillsUSA, the organization at SRTC that serves students enrolled in career and technical education training programs. The Academy of Business has had students participate in Public Speaking, Customer Service, and Entrepreneurship competitions. Two Entrepreneurship teams went on to a National competition in Louisville, KY, and one student placed in the Top 10 at SkillsUSA nationals in Atlanta, Georgia.
The program has been very fortunate to secure local and national guest speakers to interact with the students. The students have a weekly lesson with Yanely Espinal from NGPF (NextGen Personal Finance). The Academy Business was 1 of 2 schools from Maine and 1 of 38 schools from the US that were provided with a FREE copy of her book to each student and a visit from Yanely herself to talk about the importance of finance and starting young. The students were connected with her weekly talks before, but the in-person visit was just the icing on the cake.
How does the program prepare students for a career in business?
The program allows students to taste four different focus areas in business. By the time they finish the program, most are ready to choose a specific business major as they pursue their various degrees in college.
Are there any specialized focus areas within the program?
The program is broken down into four areas of focus: Finance, Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship.