Oak Forest HS BPA Classes Attend Microsoft Job Shadowing Event

Oak Forest High School Seniors Jiana Barrera, Zoe Rios, and Matt Lampasona work together to develop a “pitch” for a marketing presentation for a Microsoft product, the XBOX 1.

The students were at the Microsoft Store in Oak Brook, where they were participating in a job shadowing event recently. Through the event, students learned how to articulate Microsoft history and some of its most popular products, the basic technology of a computer system and how to market and pitch a Microsoft product.

Lampasona said the hardest thing about creating the pitch was the time frame the trainers gave the students. He said, “They gave us 15 minutes to think about what we wanted to say.” Barrera agreed, “The time frame was difficult. But luckily we were familiar with the XBOX 1 product.” They commiserated with the other teams who did not have the product familiarity they did.

They also learned the Microsoft Store operations careers and priorities such as the Community Development Specialist, Product Adviser and Technician Adviser.

Barrera said, “I liked learning about the technology like The Hub. It’s a product like a smart board but it was really like a tablet attached to the wall.”

Ms. Connie McSweeney, the Oak Forest High School Business Professionals of America Adviser, said, “The students had a productive, fun-filled day and learned a great deal about this company.”

Students who participated in this event were: Kayla Ballard, Jiana Barrera, Katelynn Bernal, Rebecca Boswell, Rachel Brenner, Samuel Eson, Taylor Ferralez, Peyton Giuseffi, Mikella Klimson, Matthew Lampasona, Paige Leahy, Bailey Maurer, Andrew Mays, Hannah McMaster, Brianna Mitchell, Valerie Perz, Edith Ramirez, Zoe Rios, Magdelene Smith-Stephney, Shaina Spinks, Grace Stahnke, Bridget West, and Donte Williams.