Area Businesses Benefit from Student Input at Harrison County High School Business Symposium
By Trina Runner on October 28, 2019 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
High school students from around Harrison County had the opportunity to work with area businesses in the Harrison County Business 
Symposium at Fairmont State University’s new location in Charles Pointe on October 4, 2019. The event was made possible through a grant from BB&T Bank and included students from every Harrison County high school.
Symposium at Fairmont State University’s new location in Charles Pointe on October 4, 2019. The event was made possible through a grant from BB&T Bank and included students from every Harrison County high school.
Harrison County Schools has had a long tradition of excellence in the business programs and coordinator, Julie Yearago of Lincoln High School worked with a team of teachers to make sure students had an immersive experience that benefitted both the students and the businesses involved.
Three businesses, two of which were from Bridgeport, submitted issues which required recommendations of 
student groups. Mourning Glory and Infinity Studios, both of Bridgeport, joined the Harrison County History Museum at the all-day event that gave students the opportunity to experience consulting businesses on real-world problems. Students were given a brief background on their assigned business and a list of issues to address, such as social media marketing, advertising, expanding markets, and upgrading websites.
student groups. Mourning Glory and Infinity Studios, both of Bridgeport, joined the Harrison County History Museum at the all-day event that gave students the opportunity to experience consulting businesses on real-world problems. Students were given a brief background on their assigned business and a list of issues to address, such as social media marketing, advertising, expanding markets, and upgrading websites.
Five students were chosen from each high school and divided into teams of three or four students, with no two students in a group from the same school. The groups had three hours to collaborate and create a presentation to address the issues presented by the businesses. The competition among groups began after a working lunch and the business owners of the three local businesses judged the competition, followed by a question and answer session.
“Many small businesses are underfunded and unable to hire additional staff members to address the marketing aspects of their businesses,” said Yearago. “By using the student’s recommendations, this event offered an opportunity to network with real businesses and demonstrated student knowledge learned in their business and marketing classes. Additionally, it is something they can put on their resumes and scholarship applications that represents professional experience within the real world.”
