Bundaberg North triumphs in business challenge

Bundaberg North State High School has topped the Wide Bay region in the first round of this year’s prestigious CQUniversity Schools Business Challenge.

“We had a great evening with a lot of fun and laughs had by all the high school teams, Wide Bay business/law teachers and CQUniversity staff,” said CQUni Business and Law lecturer Tim Whan.

“The round one winners in Wide Bay were the team from Bundaberg North State High School, headlined by Jackson Paul, Billie Morgan and Isabella Murdoch.”

Mr Whan said the team was managed by Keri Jensen, HOD – Technologies, Bundaberg North State High School.

“The runners-up were the team from Gin Gin State High School, Abbey Davis, Moselle Findlay and Bethanie Barns. The team was put together and managed by Glenda George, Teacher Librarian, Gin Gin State High School,” he said.

National finals in July

After topping schools across the local region, Bundaberg North State High School will now compete via video conference in national finals scheduled for 30 July.

Participating teams are challenged to correctly answer 10 multiple-choice questions on each of four topic areas: Accounting; Management & Business; Economics & Law; and Current Affairs/General Knowledge.

Each member of the winning team in round one will receive a $1500 CQUniversity Scholarship, provisional upon their enrolment in the School of Business & Law at CQUniversity. In addition, each winning school receives a perpetual trophy and a cash prize of $500.

Each member of the winning team at the national final will receive an additional $2500 CQUniversity Scholarship, provisional upon their enrolment in the School of Business & Law at CQUniversity.

In addition, the winning school will receive a perpetual trophy and $3000 cash prize and the runner-up school will receive a $1500 cash prize.

Annual event

Dozens of schools compete in CQUniversity’s Schools Business Challenge each year.

Dean of Business and Law Professor Lee Di Milia said the fifth annual Schools Business Challenge seemed to be growing more popular.

This year, it includes students from schools across the regions of Rockhampton, Emerald, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane and Melbourne.

“It started with us contacting schools and now we are in the fortunate position where schools are contacting us and wanting to be involved,” Professor Di Milia said.

“It suggests that we are doing something positive with the Schools Business Challenge that’s of benefit to schools in our regional areas.”

Professor Di Milia said the challenge was enjoyed by all the participants and their supporters and the competition was conducted in a friendly spirit.

“The School of Business and Law wants to further develop the thinking and skills of Challenge participants if they choose to undertake tertiary education,” Professor Di Milia said.

“We are now refocusing some of our courses and units around the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.

“We want our students to think locally but also globally how they might play a role in solving intractable issues like poverty, equity, clean water and a decent education for all, because these are the challenges that your generation are clearly going to face in the future.”