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Organization: Valley Industrial Association
Date: November 18, 2008
2008 VIA STAR Winners Announced
Sierra Vista Junior High School students take top honors in the fourth annual Valley Industrial Association VIA STAR competition
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Sierra Vista Junior High School students took top honors in the 2008 VIA STAR competition. The five-member student team partnered with the City of Santa Clarita Tourism Office to develop an "SCV Sights to See" tour package. Front row (from left): Sierra Vista Junior High School students Logan Stern, Shayne Hartigan, Sal Gonzalez, Harsitha Sakhamuri, and Connell Crocker Back row (from left): Lorraine Fullerman, Sierra Vista teacher coach, Sue Reynolds, NewMarket Careers and VIA STAR Chairwoman, Jessica Freude, City of Santa Clarita, and Julie Weith, VIA Chairwoman of the Board.
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA (November 18, 2008) — The Valley Industrial Association announces the winning student teams from the annual VIA STAR competition. Now in its fourth year, VIA STAR (Students Teaming to Achieve Results) is a product development contest designed to partner local K-12 student teams with Santa Clarita Valley businesses.
Teams consist of between three and five students, and each team is paired with a teacher coach and participating business partner. Students from elementary, junior and senior high schools throughout the Santa Clarita Valley are eligible to participate.
Over a two month period teams researched, brainstormed, designed a new product or service for their host business, drafted a business plan to build and market the product, and presented their completed project to the host company as well as a panel of judges. Teams were then judged on their business plan — vision, mission, objectives, strategies and plans — the planning process, presentation, use of resources and business evaluation.
First Place: Sierra Vista Junior High School students partnered with the City of Santa Clarita Tourism Bureau to devise a plan to enhance city-sponsored event revenue, which included website and other promotional materials. Lorraine Fulleman, Sierra Vista Junior High School, served as teacher coach.
Second Place: Charles Helmers Elementary School students partnered with Santa Clarita Guide to develop a "By Kids, For Kids" module as an enhancement to the local web guide. Linda Candib, Charles Helmers Elementary School, served as teacher coach.
Third Place: West Ranch High School students partnered with the City of Santa Clarita Department of Economic Development to develop a "Green Day" to attract environmentally-friendly commerce to the Santa Clarita Valley. Linda Cox, West Ranch High School, served as teacher coach.
Additional business partners included C2 Denistry, Priority One Credit Union, Southern Oaks Mortgage, SCV Bank, SCV Education Foundation, LBW Insurance & Financial Services, Clare Macaulay, DDS, and the SCV Chamber of Commerce. Students from Valencia High School also participated in the competition.
Contest sponsors for the 2008 VIA STAR program included the Valley Industrial Association, Embassy Suites Hotels, Six Flags Magic Mountain, NewMarket Careers, Priority One Credit Union, Mountasia, Bank of Santa Clarita, Krayton Seminars, The Signal, Candleman, Egg Plantation, Small Business Development Center, Classic Property Management, OutWest Marketing, Great Day Advertising, SCV Bank, Santa Clarita Guide, and Point of View Communications.
Judges for this year's contest included Diana Meyer, Meyer Marketing Intelligence; Leah Pollack, Elite Professionals Real Estate, Inc.; Laura Kirchhoff, Independent Sales Consultant; Claudia Morimitsu; Sabrina MacDougall, Junior Achievement; Paul De La Cerda, Small Business Development Center; and Mitch Krayton, Krayton Seminars.
The top three placing teams were awarded individual prizes. Team members from Sierra Vista Junior High School will present their project at the November 18 VIA luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Valencia to an audience of business professionals.
For more information, contact Kathy Norris, VIA CEO/President, at (661) 294-8088 or visit www.via.org.
ABOUT THE VALLEY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION (VIA) The Valley Industrial Association of Santa Clarita represents business interests throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. VIA provides its members — industrial, commercial and service companies — the opportunity to collaborate on a broad range of business issues. In addition to being a legislative advocate, VIA serves as a one-stop shop for relevant business information, supports local educational initiatives, and provides networking opportunities.
