 2022 High School Business Competition
THE PROSPECTS — A virtual statewide entrepreneurship competition for high school students with new ideas and existing small businesses. This collaborative initiative invests in our students while developing a mentorship platform to connect with business and community leaders.
ELIGIBILITY — Any of Montana's 40,000+ high school aged students are encouraged to submit their innovative ideas and solutions or enter their existing businesses.
CURRENT PRIZE PURSE $51,000 CASH & SCHOLARSHIPS— Stay tuned for regular updates as the prize purse grows. Prizes will include: cash prizes, scholarships & financial aid, technology prizes, and opportunities for mentoring, internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning.
SUBMISSIONS — Pitch Video (2 minutes or less), Business Summary (1,000 words max.) Waiver Form signed by an Educator and/or Parent or Guardian and a completed W-9 Form.
DATES —
Fall Round- October 1st-December 17th
Spring Round- January 17th-March 18th
Awards Show- April 22nd at 12pm
Judging for BOTH rounds will happen following the Spring round.
SUBMISSION information can be found at:
https://www.MontanaChamber.com/Prospects/
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Montana Dual Enrollment Summit 2022
Calling all educators, staff, and administrators of high schools and colleges (two-year or four-year)! The University of Montana Missoula College, along with the University of Montana Summer Office and Reach Higher Montana invites you to save the date for the second annual Montana Dual Enrollment Summit [umt.edu] taking place on June 20 and June 21, 2022! Our hope is to come together in-person, with some virtual options available; more details will be announced in the spring.
As many of you know from attending last year, the Dual Enrollment Summit is a professional development opportunity for the educators, staff, and administrators of high schools and colleges that aims to provide an opportunity for connections and networking between college and high school faculty, staff, and administrators to support continuous improvement, quality, and rigor in dual enrollment course offerings to Montana high school students.
Registration will open on April 4, 2022 along with an invitation for proposals for the Summit. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to Jordan Patterson in the UM Dual Enrollment office at jordan.patterson@mso.umt.edu or to Becka Simons in the UM Summer Office at becka.simons@mso.umt.edu.
Please stay safe and healthy!
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Montana FFA Hosts Successful Inaugural Equipment Operators and Driving Seminar
1,508 Montana FFA members returned to Montana State University on November 11-13 for the 10th Annual Montana FFA Ag Expo sponsored by John Deere Dealers: C&B Operations, Frontline Ag Solutions, and RDO Equipment Co. With it’s return, Ag Expo included three new contests and the first ever Equipment Operators and Driving Contest.
In this new, hands-on seminar and contest, students learned and demonstrated how to operate a compact excavator, a compact tractor, GPS, skidsteer, trailer, and were also tested on their agricultural safety knowledge.
“This event was so cool, I wish we had it when I was an FFA member!” collegiate volunteer, Hunter Krogedal, stated. “It was great to see FFA members get hands-on experience with practical skills in the field.”
“We take great pride in giving our students well rounded experiences that provide them with a toolbox of skills that will help them build a stronger future, and that’s exactly what all our contests at Montana FFA Ag Expo do,” Katharine Taylor, Montana FFA Foundation’s Programs and Office Manager, stated. “While not all students are going to go directly into equipment operation, it is vital that all students understand how to safely operate equipment, and this contest helps them do that.”
With the challenge of stacking tires with a compact excavator, maneuvering an obstacle course with a skidsteer, and moving a football with a compact tractor, students walked away with the confidence and ability to not only master technical tasks but to also navigate equipment through challenges.
The Equipment Operators and Driving Seminar wasn’t the only thing added into the mix at the 2021 Montana FFA Ag Expo. Milk Quality and Products, Prepared Public Speaking, and Soils Evaluation competitions joined the other 24 student contests already offered.
https://youtu.be/hBkMnNa-z9I
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Montana FFA members have been wrapping up fruit sales, Christmas tree sales, and district contests since the national convention in October. Everyone is excited for the holiday break but also, equally excited for the upcoming FFA activities at the beginning of a new year. The year will begin with the Fusion Conference in Helena followed by the KMON competitions, the Lewistown Mechanics contest and the Melstone Mechanics contest. The winter MAAE meeting will also take place during the Lewistown event in January.
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Montana Business Education Students & Business Educators Participate in 2021 Hour of Code
Montana’s Business Education students and teachers from all across Montana took part in the 2021 Hour of Code (hourofcode.com/us) project as part of Computer Science Education Week held December 6-10, 2021.
The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone—ages 4 to 104—anywhere—tutorials are available in over 30 languages—can participate in an Hour of Code event. Hour of Code is designed to be an opportunity for every student to try computer science for one hour.
During the week, Montana’s business education students and teachers were part of the global event which saw over 50 million students worldwide learn computer coding and programming within the seven-day period.
Almost all of Montana’s secondary business education programs are currently teaching computer science-related curricula including coding, programming, computer modeling, cybersecurity, web design, computer animation, mobile application development, network administration, robotics, and software engineering.
The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. The Hour of Code is organized by Code.org, a public 501c3 non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. A number of organizations have come together to support the Hour of Code, too—including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the College Board.
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ISTELive 22 Registration is Now Open
Go Big in the Big Easy
 If you’re choosing just one event this year, it has to be ISTELive 22 in New Orleans, June 26-29. Conference registration and hotel reservations are now open.
When you sign up for ISTELive 22, you will not only have the chance to participate in over 1,000 learning opportunities presented by global experts, you will also get to collaborate, share and see your community again—at last. And, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has designed this event for every comfort level, so you can do all of that in person or virtually.
ISTE Live is no longer just a four-day event—it is customized, flexible, year-round PD. So, be sure to check out all the ways you can participate.
Register now. Prices increase in March.
Applications are Now Open in Montana for the Code.org Professional Learning Program
Applications are now open for Code.org’s Professional Learning Program for middle and high school educators. If you are interested in teaching computer science for the 2022-2023 academic year, this is your time to explore computer science (CS) curriculum and collaborate with educators of all experience levels to develop lesson plans and teaching strategies.
What is the Professional Learning Program? Hosted by highly trained facilitators, the professional development workshops will prepare you to confidently bring CS to your students as well as connect with an online and in-person community of peers. Most workshops have scholarship funding available.
New this year, Computer Science A (CSA) professional learning has arrived. For teachers looking for support in teaching CSA in the 2022-23 school year, find a professional learning program near you.
Elementary teachers can sign-up for a one-day workshop near you! Applications are not required for Computer Science Fundamentals workshops and take place throughout the country, year-round.
Middle and high school teachers will begin with a five-day workshop on Computer Science Discoveries, Computer Science Principles and Computer Science A in the summer, with academic year workshops thereafter.
Workshops for Montana teachers include—
CS Discoveries:
--June 27-July 1, 2022; Seattle
--August 1-5, 2022; Virtual
CS Principles:
--June 27-July 1, 2022; Seattle
--August 1-5, 2022; Virtual
Computer Science A:
--June 27-July 1, 2022; Seattle
Avid, Montana’s regional Code.org partner, has scholarships available for teachers in Montana. That means you can apply to possibly attend this professional learning program at reduced or no cost to you/your school. AVID is planning on offering both virtual and in-person/hybrid summer workshops during the summer of 2022 and will switch to all-virtual if needed.
If you have any questions, please use this form to contact your regional partner.
Montana Bankers Association partners with Montana Council for Economic Education to bring
financial education to the classroom
This semester the partnership reached over 50 schools teaching business skills and the importance and rewards of investing
The Montana Council for Economic Education (MCEE) attracted over 1,500 students to compete in the Big Sky Biz Sim and the Stock Market Game with the support of the Montana Bankers Association this fall.
The Big Sky Biz Sim is a 10-week program inviting student teams to serve as the executives of a publicly traded manufacturing plant with the goal to maximize stock value. The Stock Market Game is a national program that provides students a simulated portfolio valued at $100,000 with eight weeks to maximize earnings by investing in stocks, mutual funds and bonds.
“Our member banks have prioritized financial literacy as a core skill that benefits young Montanans to be inspired as entrepreneurs while learning fundamentals in saving, borrowing, investing and management, said Cary Hegreberg, President/CEO of the Montana Bankers Association. “By partnering with MCEE,
we’re reaching students through quality programs that stretch across the state in rural and urban communities. There is a strong future in banking in Montana’s growing economy and we’re meeting students where they’re at in the classroom.”
The Big Sky Biz Sim had operational support provided by the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation and the winning teams this year were from Sidney High School, Heritage Christian in Bozeman, and Melstone High School. Industry winners were represented by Helena High School, Columbus High School, Glacier High School in Kalispell, Three Forks Schools, Twin Bridges High School, Skyview High in Billings, and Bozeman High School.
The Stock Market Game schools receive support from Glacier Bank and its family of Montana Banks to sponsor all team fees for over 400 teams. The winning teams included Corvallis High School, Belgrade High School, Skyview High in Billings, Bozeman High School, Whitehall High School, Glacier High in Kalispell, Libby High School, and Sidney High School. Both programs will open again in the spring.
“The mission at our Council is to improve economic and financial literacy for Montana’s youth and it takes partners like the Montana Bankers Association to meet this mission,” said Dax Schieffer, MCEE Executive Director. “We know that when we provide the foundation of knowledge in finance, students not only gain the tools for success for themselves and their families, but also contribute to the success of their communities and ultimately Montana.”
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BPA Chapter Highlights from Across the State
Fall 2021
 Recently we asked all the chapters in Montana for a few of their highlights. Here is what we got back. A few chapters have hit all-time highs in recruitment and membership, trying to achieve the state goal of 1500 members, and we recently reached our goal! Others attended informational sessions and Fall Leadership to improve their business skills. Lots of chapters have been fundraising with new creative ideas, like Lollipop and Krispy Kreme sales in an attempt to raise money to travel to Nationals in Texas. Great Falls High BPA organized a Winter Wonderland Walkathon as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Montana. A few chapters have been cleaning their streets and volunteering for community clean-up projects. It seems like every chapter has been working hard on their events, excited to compete in person this year. We thank you all for your hard work and positive attitudes heading into regionals!
HOSA Week 2021
 Members in our local chapters across the state have been busy as they celebrated HOSA Week 2021. In celebration of HOSA week each chapter was tasked with hosting a minimum of three events in their school or community that included: a school or community service project, a learning opportunity for students about healthcare, and showing appreciation to our healthcare community. We were impressed with the caliber of projects our chapters accomplished. Each participating chapter was awarded a mini-grant to help defer some of their costs to our state conference in April.
Happy Holidays from Montana FCCLA!
Montana FCCLA is grateful for our members, teachers, and partners across Montana! We hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season!
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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