A productive weekend for the Swift Current Comprehensive High School Business Club.

The club competed at the University of Regina against other high school business students from across the province and took home 2nd place in the Entrepreneurship category, as well as placing 3rd in the 'School of the Year' category out of 12 schools that were represented.

Grade 12 Business Club student Reagan Martin discusses the weekend results

"A lot of laughs, and when it got serious, everybody buckled down and did their best. It was a great learning experience for both of us for sure," said Martin. "The results definitely show how far we've come, and congratulations to Mrs. Lowe (Business Education teacher at SCCHS, and President of the Saskatchewan Business Teachers Association) for bringing us from pretty much the lowest spot to now 3rd place."

Fellow grade 12 club member Kali Rempel echoed the positive takeaway from the weekend as well.

"I really enjoyed it. I definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone but improved my public speaking skills and confidence in the process. I ended up having a lot of fun, so overall, it was a really great experience," she said.

One particular takeaway from the weekend was something potentially more valuable than any experience gained.

Every student in attendance over the weekend was offered a $1000/year scholarship to the University of Saskatchewan's Edwards School of Business. The scholarship, if accepted by students, would cover all four years of the Bachelor's degree of their choosing in Commerce.

However, due to the 2nd place finish in Entrepreneurship, those Business Club students got an additional $500/year on top of the original scholarship; a $6000 value over four years.

"In terms of that scholarship, regardless of whether or not we take it, it's great to have the money there for security just in case I couldn't pay for schooling all by myself. Also I wouldn't necessarily have to use student loans like I may have had to before," Martin said.

"Exactly, and I think it's a good incentive to get more people involved too, who may not have thought to do that in the first place," Rempel added.

That incentive and tool for recruitment is not something that is lost on Cindy Lowe, the organizer of the club.

"I know there are students here at the school who are going to the Edwards School of Business next year who weren't sure and didn't want to get involved. After this weekend's success, they are maybe thinking they could have had the chance to get the scholarship money," she said. "So for recruitment, I definitely have parents who are asking me about the club and students in grades 9-11 who are asking how they can get a place on the team. It's a lot of money for the kids to help out with tuition."

Prior to the weekend competition in Regina, business club students had another chance to present in front of Dan Johnson, CEO of Innovation Credit Union, along with other members of the Swift Current-based financial institution.

Last Wednesday, the students presented entrepreneurship and financial scenarios to Innovation staff, similar to the case studies they'd be presenting several days later. Cindy Lowe explains it was the first opportunity for some of those students to present in front of business professionals.

"Those students felt more prepared afterwards headed to Regina. You could see it in their faces that they felt more confident and less scared even to just articulate what needed to be said," Lowe shared.

Lowe, who has thanked Dan Johnson and Innovation Credit Union numerous times over their partnership, which is in its 3rd year, was commended by the CEO himself for what he feels is an important asset in fostering future business professionals.

"A big congratulations to Cindy Lowe for creating this and creating such a professional and energized group of kids. I think that's a very important aspect and you can just see that passion in the kids' eyes," said Johnson.

The last competition of the 2016-17 school year runs May 19th in Brandon, Manitoba.