Vanier Collegiate’s entrepreneurial students received exciting news before the school year finished, as they learned their businesses had won several provincial awards — including one their school had never received before.
During a year-end assembly in late June, Katherine Gagnon, general manager of Junior Achievement (JA) Saskatchewan, and Crystal Payant with South Central Community Futures presented eight awards to the high school’s two Entrepreneurship 30 student groups.
Clothing business Prairie Sky was named the company of the year, beating out dozens of other JA businesses across Saskatchewan. Co-presidents Colby Clark and Kate Waldenberger received the award on behalf of their business.
Furthermore, Waldenberger was named salesperson of the year, Savana Lynch and Rose Miko received the human resources management award, Sarah Gross received the teamwork award and Ella Sawicki received the Information Technology award.
Also, Stephen Walcer with soup company Mix Inc. was named president of the year, while Emily Causevic-Horning received the leadership excellence award.
Class teacher Christa Lapointe was also named the educator of the year.
Each recipient received a certificate and $100, with South Central Community Futures providing monetary gifts to the winners.
“It’s a big achievement. (We) didn’t expect it going in,” said Clark. “And to know that we pulled that off with all the ups and downs, it means a lot.”
More than 700 Saskatchewan students participated in the JA business program in 2023, explained Lapointe. At the end of the year, youths could nominate their companies and submit videos about why they should receive an award.
An adjudication committee in Regina — composed of members of the business company — then judged which student-led business was worthy of commendation.
The company of the year award “is a big one” and is an accolade that Vanier has never won before, even though the program has been operating since 2009, Lapointe said. It was “quite exceptional” for Prairie Sky — a group composed of 22 students — to receive that award.
The overall success that all the students achieved was also wonderful since they could do everything themselves and learn how to run a business.
“I can make suggestions and advise, but at the end of the day, they have to make their decisions and go in the direction that they want and want — obviously within means,” she continued. “But it’s been really good (for them to learn) that sense of ownership and accomplishment.”
Lapointe noted that many students took the skills and knowledge they learned in her class and applied them to other classes and daily life.
“So (it was) very rewarding that way, to see the confidence grow in these young individuals,” she added.
For more information about the Junior Achievement program, visit https://jacanada.org.
