28 High School Juniors from 18 Local Schools Learn Economics in a Rigorous College Course: Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders
Summer
This summer, the Economics Center enrolled 28 high school juniors from all across the region into Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders (TL2), a 3-week microeconomics course at the University of Cincinnati. This rigorous summer program was developed by the Center to educate a cadre of young students about economics and the Cincinnati community. A very competitive program, all students accepted are top performers coming with recommendations from principals, teachers and school counselors.
In addition to classroom activities, students learned about the local economy by touring businesses such as Clovernook Center for the Blind, CitiGroup Financial Services, Toyota Manufacturing and Procter & Gamble. The program began with a city bus tour moderated by local historian, Dan Hurley from the Cincinnati USA Chamber. Mr. Hurley provided insight to the economic beginnings of Cincinnati, explaining our history, and how we became the great city we are today.
During each of the regional business tours, students had the opportunity to engage with company leaders, ask questions, learn how operations work, and speak to a panel of recent graduates about what it takes to be successful in college and the world of work.
At Clovernook Center for the Blind, students learned about their mission to promote independence and foster the highest quality of life for people with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities. They found it interesting that Clovernook is a major manufacturing center that produces millions of custom pressboard and manila file folder products for a variety of companies, newspapers, magazines and government agencies. Clovernook also produces biodegradable paper cups for companies to purchase.
Doug Jacques, Clovernook’s VP of Business Operations, challenged three of the students in the program to create a new logo for their biodegradable cups. The students presented their new design at TL2’s closing ceremony as their final presentation.
Procter and Gamble executives explained their mission is to provide quality products that improve the lives of the world’s consumers. P&G partners with several organizations to coordinate events to give back to the community. They recognize the powerful impact engaging students at the earlier stages in their career development can have on their occupational choices and their contributions to local economies in the future.
Chris Ings and Mike Figliola, executives from the finance department, provided a financial overview of the company by using a "finance map" to chart the revenue and costs associated with conducted business. Bob Harper, Product Supply, demonstrated how to build a diaper and the manufacturing process associated with is. Ed McCormick from the HR department provided an overview of how the company uses teams in the work place and how to create a high involvement organization. Jodi Allen, General Manager of North America Baby Care provided a presentation on Marketing within the Baby Care business and how to differentiate product offerings. She also spoke about how to have a successful career through identifying what you are passionate about.
"This experience has greatly impacted my life and has inspired me to start my own business and gain more knowledge of business as a whole."
To learn more about the Today's Learners, Tomorrow's Leaders (TL2) please contact Kimberly Moon at 513.556.8545 or email kimberly.moon@uc.edu.
