麻豆传媒

A group of 麻豆传媒 business students will get the unique experience this week to apply learning from the classroom to current, real-world economics.

This is made possible through a new mentorship program organized by the Wichita Area Outlook Team (WAOT), called "WAOT Link to Learn," in which 10 W. Frank Barton School of Business students are paired with some of the area's top business leaders to attend the Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference on Oct. 9.

鈥淲e really want to engage students in a different way,鈥� said Jeremy Hill, director of the business school鈥檚 Center for Economic Development and Business Research, the group that organizes the conference each year. 鈥淲e want them to have those applied-learning experiences and get students something they wouldn鈥檛 have in their normal class experience.鈥�

The conference provides insight into current local and national economies, addressing topics of interest to the community, region and state. National and local experts will give presentations on issues affecting business, industry, education and government.

It鈥檚 an experience Hill says will be invaluable to students.

鈥淭his is a way to kind of propel them into the business community,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e spent all these years studying, now is the time for you to really think about getting into that community. This is an open door.鈥�

Local job growth

The students met with their WAOT mentors a few weeks ago to get acquainted before the conference. Kayla Bontrager, a senior studying management at the Barton School of Business, was paired with Mis Gaston, mall manager at Towne West Square.

鈥淏efore the first meeting, I didn鈥檛 realize what our economic growth is in Wichita and in Kansas,鈥� Bontrager said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really good information about wages, employment, who鈥檚 going to hire and when.鈥�

Westar Energy is sponsoring the Link to Learn program this year. Don Sherman, vice president of Community Relations and Strategic Partnerships with Westar, says the mentorship program correlates with his company鈥檚 new initiative 鈥淓lectrify Your Future鈥� in which Westar will partner with area educational institutes to encourage local job creation.

鈥淲e are putting on a full-court press to reach out to the youth in our community,鈥� said Sherman, who is also serving as a mentor at the conference. 鈥淚n the next five years or so, 50 percent of our workforce at Westar Energy will be eligible to retire.鈥�

This is a trend Hill said is advantageous to Wichita State business graduates.

鈥淚n our market, business professionals are what鈥檚 in the highest demand,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the fastest-growing sector right now 鈥� Potential employees need to fill that baby boom gap.鈥�

More demand than expected

The invitation to get involved in WAOT Link to Learn was available to every Barton School of Business student. The 10 who were selected come from a variety of academic areas, including business administration, accounting and international business. Even students with double majors, such as in psychology and Spanish, are in this year鈥檚 program.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little telling that students from many different disciplines, not just economics, saw the value in this,鈥� Hill said. 鈥淎nd I think that鈥檚 an encouraging sign for our student population.

Hill says the demand for the program will keep it going in following years.

鈥楢dd value to my young career鈥�

Besides help from their mentors, the students will also be surrounded by a wealth of business expertise at the conference. Representatives from Textron Aviation, The Martens Companies, the MIT International Center for Air Transportation, Sprit AeroSystems and more will be in attendance.

Wichita State will also be involved in the conference at the Century II Convention Hall. The university has taken an increasingly prominent role in the area鈥檚 economic leadership and business innovation. Hill, President John Bardo and Provost and Senior Vice President Tony Vizzini are all scheduled to participate.

Camilo Ramirez De La Barra, a senior studying finance, said he got involved to learn more about professional opportunities in Wichita. Sherman will be his mentor at the conference.

鈥淭his gives me the chance to open my network and meet professionals who one way or another will add some value to my young career,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think this program is of considerable help for every student and gives each one of us more opportunities.鈥�