Business, Design Majors Inspire Young Students

by Kyle Spencer, Public Relations Writer – November 28, 2016

Business and design students mentor local youth through BizBa$ics program.

Cedarville University students are helping students in Springfield, Ohio through an after-school program called Biz Ba$ics. Through the program, Cedarville students teach seventh- and eighth-grade students basic business, financial and career skills. 

While they focus on the business and career lessons, Cedarville’s students also become role models and friends to the middle schoolers. “The students know that we are more than just program leaders,” said Rachel Evans, a social work major from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. “We are friends and people that they can confide in.”
The program runs once a week in multiple locations across Springfield, and through it, the middle school students work to create and market their own product. 

“I often hear the kids talking about how much fun it is to make and sell their products,” said Evans. “One of the girls told me she’s going to miss Biz Ba$ics so much next year because she will be in high school and too old to come.”

As a part of the product marketing process, Biz Ba$ics students meet with Cedarville visual communication design students on Cedarville’s campus to create a poster of their product. 

“This is a great opportunity for design students to help a local organization that is rebuilding and reaching out to a local community,” said Aaron Huffman, assistant professor of graphic design. Every year about 15 design students get involved in designing posters. 

“The design students are very patient with the kids, and they always make sure the kids are involved in the design process,” Evans said.

“With the Biz Ba$ics program, our students are giving more than they get,” said Huffman. “That is the culture we are trying to build at Cedarville.”

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.