Registration for 2024 is NOW OPEN. Sign up HERE!

OUR PROGRAMS

We Offer Many Program Options to Choose From!

Washington Business Week programs provide opportunities for high school students to learn about the fundamentals of business while building job skills.

In 2023, WBW conducted:

  • Two – 5-day virtual day programs with students joining from all over the nation and the world!
    • June 26th-30th – Career pathways: Business & Telehealth
    • July 10th-14th – Career pathways: Business, Clean Energy & Advanced Business
  • One – 6-day in-person overnight program at a college campus in the summer.
      • University of Puget Sound – July 23rd-28th – Career pathways: Business, Clean Energy, and Advanced Business
  • One – 5-day in-person day program at a college campus in the summer.
      • Renton Technical College – August 14th-18th – Career pathways: Business, Telehealth/Healthcare, and Advanced Business
  • In-school programs in rural areas throughout Washington state during the academic year.

At each program, students undertake hands-on projects providing them the opportunity to operate a business and create a new product.

Watch our 2021 promotional video to learn more about the program.

What to Expect…

  • Students will be placed in groups of 10-12 peers and mentored by industry leaders and/or college students in their Junior or Senior year.
  • U.S. students will earn two (2) elective college credits from Renton Technical College. Classes will be taught by Professor Steven McKinnon in Business, Leadership, and Teamwork.
  • Advanced Business students will earn additional elective college credits from Renton Technical College.
  • Inspiring speakers will motivate and impart vital knowledge multiple times a day during the program.
  • Students will run a business simulation electing a company CEO, CFO, Marketing Manager, etc.
  • Students will create a marketing video campaign for their product and compete for engagement on YouTube.
  • Students will present their business to industry professionals as the culminating project and race against other groups to collect the most investment dollars for the new product.
  • We will have fun – students, mentors, speakers, and the entire support team look forward to working with our dynamic and diverse teams of students.
  • Students are “at camp” virtually on our platform from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students should expect to spend an additional 2-3 hours working outside of camp with their team to complete their projects Monday-Thursday of camp.
  • Students are at camp physically at the campus locations from 8 am. to 6 p.m.
  • WBW is using our new business simulation software and integrating that with Zoom for communication and Google Classroom for a seamless student experience.

Meet Your Professor – Dr. McKinnon

The 2023 WBW 5-day virtual and in-person programs will give students the opportunity to earn 2 elective college credits from our partner Renton Technical College. Meet our Professor Dr. Steven McKinnon who will teach classes on Leadership, Teamwork, and Business!
Dr. McKinnon is a business professor at Renton Technical College, where he facilitates business classes for the past two years. Prior to Renton Technical College, Dr. McKinnon started his higherEd career at Fayetteville Technical Community College as the Chair of the Business Department.
Preceding his higherEd career, Dr. McKinnon spent fifteen plus years in the restaurant and hospitality industry. There he gained an extensive amount of hands-on leadership and management experience with roles in general management, district management, and regional training management.
Dr. McKinnon is a frequent speaker at DECA Leadership Conferences and a speaker at the Black Male Summit at Highline College. He gets to live out his life-long dream lakeside in Kirkland, Washington. His interests are education (life-long learning), jazz, and is trying to play chess.

Advanced Business students are eligible to earn additional elective college credits from Renton Technical College.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, PLEASE BE ADVISED

English Proficiency Policy for WBW Virtual Programs

Washington Business Week is pleased to be able to offer our virtual camp to students from around the world. We welcome you to camp and we are thrilled you have decided to join us. All our students bring a unique perspective, and we are excited to hear yours.

This is a fast-paced environment in which students learn and grow together quickly. To successfully participate in this program, you must be fully proficient in English. The WBW program is not designed for non-English speakers. WBW programs are designed to challenge the knowledge and skills you already have with the English language.

COVID-19

The safety of the students, volunteers, staff, and speakers is paramount to WBW.  The organization will follow the current guidelines given by the State of Washington and the University location.  All students must be vaccinated, not just for COVID-19 but all recommended vaccinations, to attend WBW.  

 

REGISTRATION FOR 2024 IS NOW OPEN

WBW will have in-person and virtual camps in 2024!

Register Now

My experience here at WBW was a very fruitful one. I came to WBW hoping to learn about Business and to determine what I wanted to do with my life. I have come away with a greater understanding, a fun experience and the determination that business is the best way to use the talents I possess. I was able to practice the art of communication, and to develop my logic and math skills. I learned that sometimes [it’s] better to spend money, rather than save it. I also learned that there are sometimes when you just have to gracefully accept defeat.

– Joel Karkowski, O’dea High School