Winners Named from Oak Forest HS Entrepreneurship Trade Show

The top five winners were named from the Annual Oak Forest High School Entrepreneurship Trade Show, hosted by OFHS teacher Jim Matlon. Seen here are the winners Bree Bruce (1st Place), Lamont Brown (5th Place), Matt Lampasona (4th Place), Maya Maslovska (2nd Place), and Madison Hamrin (3rd Place).

According to Mr. Matlon, “The trade show involved students promoting products or services they enjoy. Classes from around the building, as well as district administration attended the event. Their votes compiled winners for the event.”

Some of the products and services that were on display were: Wilson Tennis Rackets, iPhones, White Barn Candles, Disney Vacation Club, Doggie Washes, sports cars, fishing poles, and sportswear. Visitors to the trade show judged promotions by their overall display effectiveness, salesmanship, organization, appearance, and confidence of the vendor. Students created various marketing concepts. Maya Maslovska marketed the Wilson Juice Tennis Racket. Maslovska, an OFHS tennis team member, knows what it takes to be a successful tennis player and this made her marketing campaign more effective. She said, “I had respondents test bounce a racket and explained how this racket was better than other rackets.”

Other students marketed experiences. Madison Hamrin marketed the Disney Vacation Club. She said, “We have the Disney Vacation membership. I told people about the different rooming options and how people could go throughout the year. I love the Grand Floridian [a Disney hotel] at Christmastime.”

Matt Lampasona marketed luxurious sports vehicles. “I marketed the Lamborghini brand. I talked about how fast the cars could go from 0-60. I played a video about the interior and exterior of the car and showed the overall luxury,” he said.

The winner of the trade show was Bree Bruce. She marketed White Barn Candles from Bath and Body Works. She left the candles open so that students could smell how wonderful they smelled. “I kept my interaction with respondents short and simple,” she said.