Fall 2007 Newsletter

In This Edition:

10th Annual “Birdies for BestPrep” Scheduled for January 26, 2008
BestPrep Wraps Up Successful Year
Stock Market Game Kicks Off Fall Session
Minnesota CEOs “Tee Up” for Education at BestPrep’s CEO Masters
Classroom Plus Ushers in New Academic Year
Minnesota Business Venture Completes Another Successful Summer
“Four Days of My Summer” (Technology Integration Workshop)
Contribute to BestPrep Through the United Way

10th Annual “Birdies for BestPrep” Scheduled for January 26, 2008

On Saturday, January 26, 2008 BestPrep will be holding its 10th Annual “Birdies for BestPrep” special event at the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus. The event, which will benefit BestPrep’s financial literacy programs (with a special focus on students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds), will include the following fun activities:

• Corporate-sponsored, professionally designed miniature golf holes
• Golf simulator
• A 200+ item silent auction (see items at http://bestprep.org/auction.html)
• Caricature artists
• Fabulous food catered by D’Amico

Attendees, representing more than 400 BestPrep volunteers, educators and donors, will be in attendance. In the past nine years, “Birdies for BestPrep” has raised more than $485,000 for BestPrep programs.

Event information:
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2008
Time: 6:30pm-10:00pm
Location: University of Minnesota, McNamara Alumni Center
Cost: $75.00 per ticket (packages of 10 for $600.00 – a total savings of $150.00) or $50 tickets for educators

For more information contact: Elizabeth Johnson at ejohnson@bestprep.org or 763-398-0090 ext. 225.

BestPrep Wraps Up Successful Year

BestPrep reported the best financial year in its history during the 2006-2007 fiscal year. This includes raising $60,000 for a program expansion fund, which allows students and teachers to participate should they be unable to cover the cost of participation. BestPrep has also completed a three-year strategic plan calling for the development of a statewide network. In order to carry out this ambitious goal, BestPrep has hired a ninth employee, its first new additional hire since 2000.

There are a variety of reasons why BestPrep reported its most successful financial year since 1976.

• Ongoing, increased support from long-time, loyal financial supporters.
• Successful fundraising efforts at special events, such as the first Annual CEO Masters golf tournament.
• Receiving national grant funding, including two national grants from EDS and the Foundation for Financial Planning.
• Strong support from BestPrep’s Board of Directors.
• Increased numbers of volunteers.

BestPrep looks forward to an even more successful 2007-2008 year, and we’d like to thank all of the companies, foundations, associations and individuals who have placed their faith in us to help Minnesota students succeed.

Stock Market Game Kicks Off Fall Session

The Stock Market Game™ (SMG), which offers students the opportunity to invest a virtual $100,000 in the stock market, began its fall session on Monday, September 10, 2007. This online simulation, which helps students become aware of the stock market, its operation, and its role in the American economy, also increases students’ money management skills. Educators across the country, aware of the great benefits of this program, have signed up more than 800,000 students to participate.

BestPrep is looking to provide the Stock Market Game opportunity for more students and teachers and is providing the following incentives:

• Current SMG teachers can receive five (5) free teams for every new teacher recruited to the program. To redeem your free teams for recruiting a new teacher, please go to http://www.bestprep.org/smg.html and fill out the short form.

• If a teacher is new to The Stock Market Game™, or he/she did not participate during the 2006-07 school year, teams can be entered for free. Apply now, as limited funding is available.

In addition, the Program Manager of SMG, Ryan Tews, offers training workshops on the program throughout the year to help the teachers new to the program better understand how to use the online simulation. No experience is necessary, with open entry and exit dates.

For more information, please contact Ryan Tews at 763-398-0090 ext. 233 or smg@bestprep.org.

Minnesota CEOs “Tee Up” for Education at BestPrep’s CEO Masters

On September 10, 2007 some 90 golfers, including 16 CEOs and company presidents, participated in BestPrep’s second annual CEO Masters golf tournament. The tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s historic Town and Country Club, honored Minnesota CEOs and their companies for their commitment to education. The participants enjoyed the day’s wonderful weather, a luncheon emceed by Dark Star of WCCO Radio, and the great golf course. First prize in the tournament went to the team led by Jerry Moe, General Manager/Partner of Wally McCarthy’s Automotive Group. The day ended with an enjoyable appetizer award reception.

Top row, left to right: Bob Kaitz - BestPrep, Jerry Moe - Wally McCarthy’s Automotive Group, Guy Shoemaker - Horizon Milling, a Cargill Foods Affiliate, Dean McCaskill - TURCK, Chuck Bond - COKeM International, Roger Schelper - Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies, Jeff Williams - Ameriprise Bank, Bruce Nicholson - Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Bottom row, left to right: John Packard - Culligan Water Conditioning Co., Kenneth Burdick - UnitedHealthcare, Mary Niemeyer - CBS Radio Minneapolis, John Lettmann - Malt-O-Meal, John Castino -Wealth Enhancement Group, Lisa Bormaster - Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Mike Roos - KPMG. Not pictured: Jeff Dekko - Wealth Enhancement Group, Bill Simpson - Periscope, Dave St. Peter - Minnesota Twins.

For additional information on the tournament, visit BestPrep’s website at: CEO Masters.

With plans already underway for a third annual 2008 CEO Masters tournament, please pay attention to BestPrep’s website for additional information.

Classroom Plus Ushers in New Academic Year

As we near October, Classroom Plus, BestPrep’s flagship program, has already begun working on more than 350 requests for presentations on topics ranging from financial literacy to career options, to technology and consumer economics, from MN teachers. Volunteers have begun giving their presentations, helping students to become more successful, financially literate and independent adults.

BestPrep, working in conjunction with the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, is arranging for speakers to present on financial literacy topics throughout MN during Financial Planning Week, October 1-7, 2007. Presenters can use their own customized presentations, or use one of two presentations created by a committee of financial planning volunteers: “Money Matters” or “Budgeting Matters.”

The new Program Manager of Classroom Plus, Kristin Dieng, will be staffing a booth with BestPrep’s President and CEO, Bob Kaitz, at a Financial Planning Week event.

Event: Panel Discussion “Money, Values and Your Children”
Sponsor: Financial Planning Association of Minnesota
Date and Time: Tuesday, October 2, 2007; 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka, MN

The event will feature a variety of local celebrities, including Nathan Dungan of Share, Save, Spend; Mick Endersbe of College Planning University and Chris Farrell, a public radio and TV economic correspondent. The program will be moderated by WCCO-TV news anchor Terri Gruca. The panel will cover such topics as financial values and education for children, saving and paying for higher education and managing a family's overall financial household in today's challenging economic environment. We invite you to attend, as the event is free and Junior Achievement will be providing age-appropriate activities and games for children between the ages of 5 and 12 while their parents attend the panel.

Volunteer with Classroom Plus!

Classroom Plus is always looking for volunteers interested in giving presentations to classrooms throughout Minnesota. Speakers volunteer for a variety of reasons:

• Improve your public speaking and presentation skills • Connect with the community • Remind yourself why you love your job • Share your knowledge and experience • Get to know your audience • Get your company’s name out • Connect with teenagers • Have fun

To volunteer as a speaker, go to http://www.bestprep.org/CP/cpvolunteers.html or contact Kristin Dieng at 763-398-0090 ext. 230 or kdieng@bestprep.org.

Minnesota Business Venture Completes Another Outstanding Summer

More than 325 students, from 103 high schools, participated in this summer’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) program, where the students focused on learning business and money management skills and career development.

The students engaged in the following activities:

• Mock interviews
• Wrote business plans and presentations
• Attended professional speakers (including experiential presentations)
• Participated in Corporate Olympics
• Attended small group discussions with 15 financial advisors on the topic of investing
• Participated in sporting events for team building

As in previous years, the students attended MBV on the campuses of St. Cloud State University and St. John’s University, where the students were introduced to dorm and college life.

Companies, always eager to help educate Minnesota students and participate in BestPrep’s busness and financial literacy programs, played an active role in both MBV weeks. Some of the companies included: Best Buy, ETC Enterprises, Inetium, Feed My Starving Children, Ecolab, Allstate Insurance, College Nannies and Tutors and the American Institute of Small Business. 3M Foundation, Deluxe Corporation Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation and Piper Jaffrey Foundation all spoke on the importance of philanthropy in business, leading the students into activities relating to dispersing foundation funds.

Although everyone can agree that there were several successful outcomes from the MBV camps, some of the most obvious accomplishments include:

1. Students better prepared to conduct successful future interviews, budgets, business proposals and college applications
2. Students with improved teamwork skills
3. Increased community relations and awareness with youth
4. Students formed bonds and mentorships with 175 company volunteers

As one MBV student says, “After MBV I applied for a job and I could tell during my interview that I was much more confident and I didn’t say the word ‘um.’ The most rewarding part is that I earned the job!” –Student, Connections Academy, New York Mills

If you would like additional information on Minnesota Business Venture, contact Andrea Hanson at ahanson@bestprep.org or 763-398-0090 ext. 226.

“Four Days of My Summer” (Technology Integration Workshop)

I’ve had a couple of epiphanies over the last few years which have compelled me to make a shift in my teaching priorities. As a teacher in a small town, I understand that my students need to be prepared for an ever changing world -- and that the lifelong learning tools and skills that I teach them are likely to be as important as the content that I teach.

Despite the fact that I utilize computers and the Internet in my learning activities, I’ve realized in the last few years that I had become complacent and had not pushed myself to learn more about how to implement technology to improve my teaching style and learning plans. Wanting to arm my students with the information, skills and qualities that will help them to be successful in the 21st century, I’d like to expose my students to technology in the classroom as advanced as the technology they’re being exposed to in their personal lives. One way to do this is to take advantage of the fact that I teach the last required course that students take in our school district. However, before I could further integrate technology into my course, I needed more direct experience with technology itself.

BestPrep’s Technology Integration Workshop was recommended to me by a staff member that attended the Workshop and integrated what she had learned into her own courses. It offered me the opportunity to hear about technology, to see how technology was being used in the workplace and then to learn about how to implement what I learned into my own classes.

At the workshop, the guest speakers shared their perspectives on integrating technology in the classroom and conveyed a sense of urgency in their purpose, portraying that the time for technology integration is now. Many of our students have already integrated technology into their daily lives and the workplace needs employees with basic technological skills. The breakout sessions we participated in were varied, meeting the needs of the novice to offering veterans in technology integration opportunities to learn something new. One highlight of the Workshop is the chance to job shadow. Each attendee shadows someone in the workplace to witness firsthand how technology is used in the professional world. This was an eye-opener for me.

The Technology Integration Workshop helped me to make some major shifts in my teaching practice. I realize that by not implementing appropriate technology in my classroom, I limit the learning opportunities that can come from my classroom instruction. I owe it to my students to prepare them for life beyond high school and technology will be a major part of their lives.

--Submitted by Amy Dombeck, Social Studies Teacher at Cannon Falls High School

For more information about the 2008 Technology Integration Workshop, please contact Bonnie Vagasky at 763-398-0090 ext. 227 or email bvagasky@bestprep.org.

Contribute to BestPrep Through the United Way

One way that individuals can contribute to the success of BestPrep is through donating to BestPrep through the United Way giving campaign. In fact, last year alone BestPrep received more than $13,000 from individual contributions through the United Way! These contributions have made it possible for economically disadvantaged students to use our financial literacy and career development programs, such as Classroom Plus, Minnesota Business Venture, The Stock Market Game™ and TECH CORPS®, at a low and affordable cost.

Does your organization have a United Way giving campaign? If so, and if you would like to contribute to BestPrep’s programs, please complete the following two steps:

1. Fill out the United Way pledge form offered through your organization. Simply check the box that asks if you want to designate all or a portion of your gift to a specific agency, write in BestPrep, Brooklyn Park, MN and the amount, and check the release box which authorizes United Way to give BestPrep your name vs. “anonymous.” Some campaigns may require that you request a separate “designation card” from your campaign chair to select BestPrep as the recipient of your contribution.

2. Notify BestPrep! Send an email to Elizabeth Johnson at ejohnson@bestprep.org with your name, company/organization, address, phone number, the amount of your gift, and whether your gift to United Way is a lump sum payment or being paid on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Thank you for considering supporting BestPrep through United Way! For more information about how to make a donation to BestPrep, please visit www.bestprep.org or contact Elizabeth Johnson at 763-398-0090 ext. 225.