One of my more memorable moments of many occurred the other night. The board room at Molson Coors Brewing Company in Denver was buzzing with genuine smiles and contagious excitement - I can't do it justice in writing, but it was documented by our media partners so stay tuned. This night, 10 student participants learned their challenge, met sponsors and mentors for what promises to be an outstanding junior year in college experience.
The Metropolitan State College of Denver Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Relations has spearheaded an educational twist to a favorite reality TV show, The Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State.
The Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State will occur during the 2007-2008 academic year. During that time, a team of Metro State juniors (from all majors) will get a hands-on opportunity to work with successful business and nonprofit leaders (Project Sponsors) on projects that impact the local community.
Selected students will compete each month to develop and implement community-based projects, while being mentored by professionals in the local business and nonprofit communities. The best part is, no one will be fired!
THE APPRENTICE will be named in spring 2008 at the finale event, The Boardroom, which will take place on May 1, 2008 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Tivoli Turnhalle on the Auraria campus. Event attendees will decide who’s hired!
The winning student’s paid internship will be completed during the 2008-2009 academic year with a local company and they will receive a full tuition scholarship for their senior year at Metro State.
“This challenge underscores Metro State’s role as an urban land grant college, involved in meeting the needs of businesses and of the community by solving problems and creating strategies for future growth and sustainability,” says Metro State President Stephen Jordan. “The projects our students are undertaking represent an entrepreneurial, outside-the-box approach.”
These select student already win because they succeeded in a difficult and deliberate interview process with local business leaders and team building exercises including ropes courses. Being here is an accomplishment! Before they learned their teams this night, many student told me they already know they can work as a team with any of the other participants because of what they have already experienced together - this night, they learned who they team with and the competition/learning is on!
THE COMETITORS
Kaleigh Braun
Hometown: Littleton
Major: Marketing
Favorite class: Western Civilization
"Before Metro I completed my core classes at Arapahoe Community College where I was the only student to receive both the Mile-Hi Optimist Club of Denver and Arapahoe Sales Professionals scholarships..." > Read More
Cindy Cervantes
Hometown: Denver
Major: Business Management
Favorite class: Principles of Marketing
"As a child I liked to draw a lot and had dreams of becoming a comic book illustrator..." > Read More
David Foos
Hometown: Denver
Major: Finance
Favorite Class: Managerial Finance
"After graduating from North High School, I joined the United States Navy, where I served for five years as an air traffic controller..." > Read More
Ashley Gilchrist
Hometown: Denver
Majors: English and Secondary Education
Minor: Spanish
Favorite class: Young Adult Literature
"I work construction and am a laborer for Gerald H. Phipps..." > Read More
Benjamin Gillespie
Hometown: Denver
Major: Modern Languages – Spanish
Minor: Anthropology
Favorite class: Spanish Phonetics – Theory and Practice
"My passion for Spanish was encouraged and secured through the teaching of a wonderful educator, Señora Susan Truitt at Heritage High School..." > Read More
Heidi Harrold
Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Favorite class: Advanced Human Cadaver
"My goal is to eventually become a pediatric surgeon..." > Read More
Erin Kasch
Hometown: Breckenridge
Major: Speech Communication (Emphasis: Organizational Communication)
Minor: Public Relations
Favorite class: Oral Interpretation
"I was greeted by family and friends and was named “Ullr Baby”, because I was born during Ullr Fest—one of Breckenridge’s most popular events..." > Read More
Geidre Stasiunaite
Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania
Majors: Political Science and Modern Languages
Favorite class: Anything in political science
"I am currently studying Spanish, German and Chinese and I am fluent in Russian and Lithuanian..." > Read More
Noah Steingraeber
Hometown: Born in Utah, but Denver is my hometown
Major: Marketing
Favorite class: Sustainable Marketing
"I am really into learning about sustainable technology such as hybrid cars, wind power, renewable resources..." > Read More
Chris Wilcox
Hometown: Devils Lake, North Dakota
Major: Computer Information Systems
Favorite class: Database Management Systems
"Starting in 2002, I began competing in national and world-level air hockey tournaments..." > Read More
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