3rd Annual Beeprentice Winner is Announced!

UN-BEE-LIEVABLE!   ZBTHS Presentation The third season of the Bee-Prentice Scholarship Competition was filled with excitement, hope and challenge as twenty five Z-BTHS juniors competed for the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship to the college or university of their choice.  The path began last January when students were invited to a special seminar to learn about the program that would require nearly nine months of dedication, patience and on the job tenacity. The Bee-Prentice Challenge is modeled after the popular television reality show, “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump.  In partnership, the City of Zion, Zion Benton Township High School and the local business community developed the program to give our high school students essential life skills and actual experiences that will help them obtain the career they want instead of settling for a job they can find. The path begins with a competitive essay submittal and personal interview.  Only students with a 2.0 or better GPA and no discipline issues are allowed to enter the program.  Once admitted into the process, students attend a series of ‘boot camps’ that focus on various aspects of real life employment situations.  There are lessons in business protocol, resume writing, what to wear… and just as importantly, what not to wear! Students create their own marketing campaign for a company or product and then each team must solicit online votes for their entry.  The team with the highest number of votes wins that particular challenge.  The workshop that always seems to bring the most surprises is the one-day drop in job experience.  Students are partnered with a local business for a single day and must perform whatever tasks are most needed while they are on staff’.  Some will learn behind the scenes secrets of retail while others tackle service industry or even restaurant and public service opportunities.  Reviewing Applications One aspect of the program involves being part of a charitable organization because our hope is that the students learn to appreciate that as corporate employees or owners one day they have an obligation to give back to the community, to share their opportunities with others who may not have had these advantages.  This experience has ranged from rehabbing a Zion home through Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April) to volunteering at Nostalgia Days.  The largest portion of the program is the paid summer internship which requires the student to actively compete for a limited number of actual jobs.  This season ten companies were involved and the participants had to contact the owners/managers and arrange for their own interviews.  This was a new process for the program and designed to make the experience as realistic as possible.  Those students that obtain a summer job and held it throughout the challenge period were then evaluated by the employer, secret judges and the Bee-Prentice panel.  In September, all of the accumulated scores were tallied and the top five were invited for a final exit interview.  Every student in the program must be commended for his or her integrity and dedication.  This is a very long and demanding program that challenges them to be proactive, open to criticism, go to work when their friends are enjoying the summer vacation and all along knowing only one can win the scholarship. It was a very difficult process for the panel as well and throughout the program the staff at Z-BTHS, particularly Cal Schneider, Claire Erickson and Chris Clark, offered every level of support and insight.  Finally, a champion was selected and then announced during the half-time show of the Z-BTHS vs Warren homecoming game on October 3rd.  All of the remaining Bee-Prentice students gathered on the field and were recognized for their accomplishments, and while all are deserving and we know they will go on to make the Zion Benton community even more proud of them, only one could recieve the award. Bee-Prenctice 2008 Champion Katie Wardlow The 2008 Bee-Prentice Champion is Katherine ‘Katie’ Wardlow for her ability to remain positive, focused and add genuine creative energy to any task at hand.  Her internship with the Zion Area Chamber of Commerce will have lasting influence for years to come.  We congratulate Katie and her family for accepting the Bee-Prentice Challenge and we wish all of the participants the very best.  The are all winners and will have the support of the Mayor’s Office through recommendations for scholarships and employment references for as long as they ever have a need.  It was an honor to meet all of the students who have participated over the last three years and we thank the business community.  Please visit www.beeprentice.com for a full listing of the students and our business partners.  Without their sincere interest in the future welfare of our children as our leaders and business owners the Bee-Prentice program would not be possible.  We wish all of the students the very best and look forward to Season Four.  If you are currently a Z-BTHS junior, …’bee’ ready for next spring when you will have the chance to take the Bee-Prentice Challenge!

What A Time!

I’m not going to lie.  I joined this program, purely for a scholarship.  However, I learned so much more than I expected.  I met so many awesome people and reconnected with some old ones.  I know I lucked out this summer, its not everyday that you find a job that pays you eight dollars right off the bat, get invited to a banquet and make a movie to represent yourself.

My first interview was at the Zion Chamber of Commerce and I got the job which I was very excited about and I worked under Diana Gornik who is a wonderful boss.  She was very caring and very amusing to work with.  I couldn’t have asked for a better position.  Reflecting on my time there, I realize that she taught me a great deal about the business and she was a ball and absolutely put 100% of her effort into teaching my fellow co-worker and I about responsibility and respect.  Diana brought a whole new meaning to class and was a great romodel.  I loved working with her and would go back any time.  Anyone would be lucky to work with her.

My work ethic improved, I improved my time management skills as well as my computer skills and I improved my formal wardrobe as well, which I will admit was lacking. *Laughs*  Zion Area Chamber of Commerce was definetly the “place to bee”.  I hope that in the future I will find a job as good as that one.  It was a wonderful experience working there.

I feel very blessed and lucky to have been part of this, I really do feel that I took a big step in furthering my education and I took advantage of an opportunity to learn outside the classroom and got a dose of the real world through this program. 

I had a blast and I wouldn’t change a thing about my involvement in this program.  Bee Prentice is a thrilling test of dedication, talent and determination and every junior should join this friendly competition and broaden their horizons in the work field.  This summer has been unforgettable and I have Sonolito, Delaine, Diana and many others to thank for that. 

Congratulations to my fellow students who made it this far.  I wish every single one of you the best of luck and I really hope that whoever wins uses this experience to their fullest advantage.  You guys really made this worthwhile and everyone that participated in this program deserves a good pat on the back and a job well done.  We made it this far guys, only good things can come of it now. 

Hello

     I have been working at the Zion Area Chamber of Commerce for three weeks now, and I absolutely love it! I have learned so much in such a short period of time.

     I must commend the panel for picking out a wonderful list of places to work at this summer. Each job on the list is rewarding in its own way.

     I hope everyone else has found a job, and I look forward to reading posts about each person’s  experience.

UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING….

First, I would like to say that I am sorry that I havn’t been on that much. I have been busy with tons of things. Things in my life are not all that great. I missed the meeting at the Tropics and I feel bad about that. The reason why I missed that, was because I was out of state with a church group. I had tons and tons of fun. If I could I would go back and do it all over again. We had to meet at Zion city hall on Sturday June 21. At 9:00am.  Durring the time that we were there we had to sell t-shirts. ( There were two other groups; which were: collecting ballots and  also making and selling Tie Die shirts) When were were there we were told that we could go to Dominos or to Culvers and get lunch. The only things that I got were Ice Cream, Water, Pepsi. and Breadsticks. All in all The day started out reainy, but it cleared up. The weater was humid, but there was no rain. I think that I had a great time. Being there working with everyone, we all learned what it was like to actually work as a team. (I think that that was the lesson we were supposed to learn.) I think that the expierience that we got from this will stay with us for the rest of our lives.  Now.. if we choose to use that… thats up to each and everyone of us. I know that I am going to use it.

Tropics direction

found  throughout mapquest it in winthrop habor
you get on to Sheriden rd
head toward  7th
make right on 7th
stay straight on main st
turn left on N Point Dr.
end at 301 N Point Dr.

   I just want to say how wonderful it was to be recognized for our efforts in the program. It was truly an honor.

    I just received the packet in the mail today with the job listings. I can’t wait to get started. It’s very exciting.

     Does anyone know how to get to the Tropics?

What going on

So what’s going on??

So its been two weeks and I haven’t recieved any information about bee-prentice what so ever!! Im excited for June 3! Mr. Lane Harrison was my computer teacher in 7th grade, man such a long time ago. I don’t think he’ll remember me, but lets see what happens. Im really proud of myself to have made it this far, makes me wonder what else I can accomplish. Well enough of my day dreaming, I have to get to work, but I’ll try to blog more offten. Bye everyone!=)

oh my goodness

so im sorry that i have not been on in a very long time. I have been pretty busy with work and figuring out how my summer will be with the program and my job and keylime cove! i finally figured it all out which is great and just relieves me so much from the stress. The last workshop was great! I got to work at Its All Good which i was soo exicted about because i had wanted to apply there before i applied to keylime cove. i got to work with my friend that also worked there. The owner was super sweet to me and gave me an application! i was super excited just to be there and have such a friendly environment. Im super excited for June 3! Im also very excited for us to get the lists of jobs that we can interview for and just see what varieties there are. Well its 1 in the morning and im up doing homework. I better get some sleep i have a couple tests tommarow. Goodnight.

Oh and by the way i will be leaving on june 6-10th so if there is anything between that time period im very sorry i will not be able to attend but anything before or after that im totally there! GOODNIGHT!

hi