YORKTON – Over 65 students from Good Spirit School Division and Keeseekoose First Nation attended the THINK Business Event on Nov. 13.
The event was held at the Yorkton Regional High School's Teaching Theatre and Suncrest College Campus, and was sponsored by five key partners: Good Spirit School Division, Suncrest College, Regina District Industry Education Council, University of Regina's Paul J. Hill School of Business, and the Kinsmen U18 AAA Maulers Hockey Team.
The THINK Event provides students in Grades 10-12 with insights into specific career areas. Last year, GSSD, Suncrest, and RDIEC hosted three successful THINK Events focused on agriculture, health, and trades. This year's event was the first of three planned for the 2024-25 school year, with THINK Law in February and THINK Emergency Services in May.
The day began with Jenna Niebergall, Suncrest College’s Manager of Marketing & Public Relations, presenting on career opportunities in business. Syed Kamal, a student recruiter from the University of Regina’s Paul J. Hill School of Business, followed with an introduction to various business careers, including accounting, finance, human resource management, marketing, and general studies. He also explained the differences between the school's certificate, diploma, and degree programs.
A highlight of the event was the ‘Building Business Brilliance’ Q&A session with local business professionals. Panelists included David Balysky (City of Yorkton), Jason Croswell (Sask Crop Insurance), Kristin Martinuik (Kondratoff Persick LLP), Payton Molnar (Banner Bison), Sarah Nelson (Cornerstone Credit Union), and Sean Thompson (Hallow Clothing Co.). They shared their career journeys, emphasizing that success in business often follows a non-linear path.
Students enjoyed a pizza lunch and then heard from Jason Gordon, Head Coach of the Kinsmen U18 AAA Maulers Hockey Team, who discussed the business side of hockey. Students then participated in a case competition, tackling topics such as boosting attendance for the Yorkton U18 AAA Kinsmen Maulers or enhancing recruitment for Suncrest College.
Two more presentations followed, including Tori Danylko, a current Suncrest College Business Diploma student, shared her positive experiences at the college, noting the benefits of small class sizes and available scholarships. Finally, Josh Haczkewicz, a fifth-year accounting student at the University of Regina, discussed the Co-op Program and JDC West Case Competitions, highlighting their value in gaining professional experience and employment opportunities.
The day concluded with student presentations, showcasing their solutions to the case competition topics. Judges praised the high quality of the presentations, despite the limited preparation time, and awarded first place in each category.
