INDIANA – Students from four Indiana high schools were named winners in the 2024 Conexus Indiana Student Industries Case Competition.
Teams of student leaders from Mitchell High School, Eastbrook High School, Perry Central High School and White River Valley High School will receive cash prizes to support their School-based Enterprise (SBE), an in-school entrepreneurial advanced manufacturing and logistics business managed and operated by students.
“The Case Competition, open to schools operating SBEs throughout the state, gives high schoolers a platform to showcase their practical decision-making and problem-solving skills,” said Kyle Marshall, senior director of talent programs at Conexus Indiana. “The competition also allows them to present to and interact with a panel of industry leaders in Indiana – an opportunity they otherwise might not have while in high school.”
Competing schools were divided into two groups for judging, with first and second place awarded to each group. First place winners will receive a $6,000 cash prize to support their SBE and second place winners will receive a $4,000 cash prize.
“The awarded funds will help schools sustain and grow their SBE programs as they continue to prepare the next generation of Indiana’s industry leaders,” Marshall said.
Mitchell High School’s Cement City Industries is also a second-place winner. Students at Cement City Industries presented a business case that resulted in the launch of its sustainable product line using leftover cardboard. Cement City Industries provides its customers with various design and digital manufacturing services.
Eastbrook High School’s EBEAMS (Marion, Ind.) SBE has been named a first-place winner. EBEAMS students presented a business case where students utilized Amazon as a sales platform for manufactured goods and deployed a social media promotional strategy to increase sales on Amazon. Alongside Amazon, EBEAMS fulfills design/manufacturing contracts in the local community.
White River Valley High School’s Wolverine Enterprises (Switz City, Ind.) also has been named a first-place winner. Wolverine Enterprise students presented a business case to diversify its retail locations by adding a permanent storefront in the high school called Wolverine Warehouse. Wolverine Enterprises comprises six business verticals: agriculture services, custom manufacturing, precision machining, fine arts and design, frozen foods, printing, and logistics.
Perry Central High School’s Commodore Engineering (Leopold, Ind.) has been named a second-place winner. Commodore Engineering students presented a business case where students procured a better-functioning part to meet its client’s needs, local chair manufacturer Jasper Group. Commodore Manufacturing comprises three divisions – advanced manufacturing, construction, and engineering.
Judges for the competition came from industry, nonprofit and the public sector including Backhaul Direct, Mursix, Polygon Composites, Rolls-Royce, Ascend Indiana and the Department of Workforce Development.
Conexus Indiana Student Industries is a statewide network of high schools dedicated to developing advanced manufacturing and logistics talent through SBEs. In addition to the Case Competition, SBE partners participate in statewide meetings to share best practices. They can apply for grants to support summer operations, purchase equipment or raw materials, and create marketing materials. To learn more about Conexus Student Industries, visit www.conexusindiana.com/activate-talent/conexus-student-industries.
About Conexus Indiana
For over a decade, Conexus Indiana, one of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) non-profit initiatives, has positioned the Hoosier State as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to innovate, invest, employ, and succeed. By collaborating with industry, academic, and public sector partners on a shared vision for an innovative, skilled workforce and more robust business climate, Conexus Indiana has helped to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and logistics companies, prepare Hoosiers to succeed in the state’s largest industry sectors and maintain Indiana’s competitive advantage. For more information, visit conexusindiana.com.
