Hamilton High School freshman Emerson Bucek is one of three winners in the statewide Kwik Trip Innovation Competition organized by Wisconsin Business World. This statewide business-focused contest tasks students in grades 6th through 12th with creating and presenting a marketing plan for a new product to be sold in Kwik Trip stores.
Bucek’s presentation was for a “Share Your Plate Program” that bundles grocery items to be used in recipes solicited from local community members. She says being recognized is both exciting and meaningful as the idea came from personal experience. “I came up with the idea after realizing how much planned meals helped my family during busy times, especially when we were moving,” shares Bucek. “It made me think about how helpful something like that could be for other families as well.”
The Kwik Trip Innovation Competition challenges students to develop original ideas that reflect real-world business problem solving, customer focus and operational excellence. Students created innovative product concepts and developed presentations outlining their marketing strategy, target audience and how their ideas could increase consumer engagement and sales. Each contest winner receives a $500 cash prize.
“I am incredibly proud of Emmie and the hard work she put into this project,” shares Hamilton High School Business Education Teacher Chris Oechsner. “To compete on a statewide scale for a brand as iconic to Wisconsin as Kwik Trip is no easy task.”
“Preparing my presentation was a great experience because I got to develop the idea into something realistic and think about how it could work in a community while also helping families feel recognized for their cultural foods and stories,” Bucek explains. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the contest and share my ideas.”
“Projects like the Kwik Trip Innovation Contest provide invaluable learning opportunities for students by transforming our classroom into a hands-on learning lab,” Oechsner adds. “These projects allow our students to move beyond the course content and apply their skills to real-world business scenarios.”
Wisconsin Business World, a program of WMC Foundation, educates students on business, entrepreneurism and the free market through its statewide competitions, Summer Camps, one-day programs, online curriculum and classroom presentations. The Business World message is simple: Business is a Force for Good.