This spring, students from Sweet Briar’s business management lab organized three events in support of Amherst County Habitat for Humanity: Battle of the Bands, the “Princess Palace” and “Be Homeless for Habitat,” a campout aimed at increasing awareness for homelessness.
The objective of the lab is to model real-world businesses by having students raise both funds and awareness for Habitat’s mission. Over the past two years, students have organized several events, including Battle of the Bands contests in 2006 and 2007.
“One of the really wonderful things about this course is how each semester’s class builds on what the classes before them accomplished,” Tom Loftus, business management professor, said.
“The Battle of the Bands, for example, went much more smoothly this semester because this class had last year’s handbook to serve as a guide, as well student managers who had participated in the first Battle.”
This year’s class raised $1,500 for Habitat, more than twice what the lab collected last year.
On Wednesday, April 25, students presented the results of their semester-long project, including a 60-page report detailing the effort. “Next year’s classes will be given copies of the new report book and will be able to implement the recommendations this class has made,” Loftus said.
“Also, I’m delighted that four members of this lab have signed on to serve as student managers in the fall and that Micaela Weiss has agreed to return as our CEO. This is exactly how business and, in fact, all human cultures work, with each generation building upon the foundations of what came before.”
In the report, this year’s CEO Michelle Raymond ’09 stressed the importance of the project. “The class’ contribution to Amherst County Habitat for Humanity is an investment in our community,” she wrote.
“When you give to Habitat for Humanity, you can be sure that we are achieving results that improve people’s lives and create lasting changes in our community.”
Craig Cassell, executive director of Amherst County Habitat, praised the students’ effort. “You guys have done an outstanding job,” he said, adding that he envisions the class taking on a home construction project in the future.
The presentation was followed by the business management lab’s first “company picnic.”
(From left) Professor Tom Loftus, Ashleigh Caisse, Ashlee Mays, Jenny Walkiewicz, Micaela Weiss, Molly McGonegle, Margaret Melchor, Carlyle Eden, Kirsten Miller, Michelle Raymond, Madeline Eubanks, Catie Gumpman, Lindsay Arnold, Megan Manubay, Cara Evans and Ruthanne Ratliff.
