43
Phantoms, Fitch students take part in Game of Business
By AMANDA TONOLI
AUSTINTOWN
Ten Austintown Fitch High School students “got schooled” at the Covelli Centre during a Youngstown Phantoms hockey game.
Aafke Loney, co-owner of the Youngstown Phantoms, recently extended the Game of Business program to high-school students who also had the opportunity for job shadowing.
“Career development is so important, as high-school students should be deciding before going to college their area of study,” Loney said. “The Game of Business is an opportunity for students to receive a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at how a sports team runs as a business through data research, an on-site tour, operational and marketing information as well as critical thinking discussion time.”
Christine Kinnick, business education teacher and Future Business Leaders of America adviser, chose 10 students from the FBLA for the job-shadow opportunity Nov. 20 to practice for the game on Wednesday.
“The job shadowing taught them about marketing and tickets and social media,” Kinnick said.
During the game, the students joined Phantoms staff, divvying up responsibilities in guest services, taking tickets and working in the team shop; working in game-day operations, doing fan interaction and promotional work with the team mascot; and working in the broadcasting booth.
As a career-development teacher, Kinnick said she was happy to see students put the skills they learned in class to use.
“My students are getting hands-on work experience that I teach in my class,” Kinnick said. “I’m always looking for things like this.”
The students participating in the Game of Business program weren’t the only ones receiving an educational experience during the game.
“We approached STEM businesses to help promote different STEM learning opportunities so students could see how science, technology engineering and math occur on and off the ice,” Loney said.
Loney said the Phantoms and Fitch High School have been involved with one another since hockey players joined the Falcon Pride Online Program, online education through Austintown schools in 2014.
“The flexibility of an online education program along with the support of certified tutors has provided an amazing learning experience for our athletes who are still in high school,” Loney said.