High School Students & Business Professionals Descend on Ohio Dominican for Ohio Business Week 2008

Sunday, June 8 – Saturday, June 14

June 5, 2008

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio Dominican University is proud to promote “hands-on” business learning by hosting Ohio Business Week (OBW) at the University’s main campus on Sunbury Road from June 8 through June 14. More than 190 high school students from 35 counties and 40 business professionals are scheduled to participate in the week-long program.

“Our partnership with Ohio Business Week is unique because it focuses on connecting students with college life and real world experiences,” said Dave Archibald, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Ohio Dominican University. “This is our second year hosting this extraordinary event and we are pleased that not only the students live and learn on campus but the professional volunteers also reside on campus throughout the program.”

Ohio Business Week offers eligible high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors a unique way to learn how to form and operate their own start-up business venture. Students are assigned to a "company" team consisting of 10 to 12 students from all over Ohio. Under the mentorship of a loaned executive, called a company advisor, each company will elect officers, develop an idea for a business and create deliverables. Each company will research and write business, marketing and financial plans; create a magazine advertisement and website homepage; develop a radio or TV commercial; and design a trade show display. At the end of the week, each team will present its project to a panel of business executives posing as venture capitalists.

Ohio Business Week is a program of the Ohio Business Week Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Nearly 75 percent of program costs are paid by scholarship sponsors from across Ohio. Students pay the remaining 25 percent in the form of a commitment fee of $195. The fee includes meals, housing and materials for the entire week. Financial aid is available for families who cannot afford the full fee.

To be eligible for the program, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of C+ or higher; participate in extracurricular or community activities; submit an essay detailing why they want to attend Ohio Business Week; obtain an endorsement from a high school faculty member; and have written permission from a parent or guardian.

	OBW Students participate in the opening General Assembly on Monday, June 9th.
	Students enjoy a little break in the Underground after all the day's activities have been completed.
	Area business professionals and OBW students gathered in the Colonial Room for the VIP Luncheon on Wednesday, June 11.

OBW Schedule of Events: http://www.ohiobusinessweek.org/typicalday.html

OBW website: http://www.ohiobusinessweek.org/index.html