Yorba Linda High School gives students the chance to join career and technical education (CTE) pathways, which are focused programs designed to build real world skills. At YLHS, one of the options is the Business Academy, offering hands-on learning, from taking notes on how to run a business all the way to being an employee in the school’s student-run business. 

The first year of the business academy—Intro to Business—consists of learning the basics of running and working for a business. Throughout the course of intro to business, taught by Jill Romero, students learn skills into becoming an employee or owner one day. 

In the second level of the Business Academy students enter the Business Technology and Communications class taught by Madison Waltemeyer. Throughout this class, students learn how to properly write emails, memos, and business letters. They are also taught to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Business communications and technology teach students how to communicate professionally in a business setting while using tools like spreadsheets, documents, and presentations. 

The capstone level of the academy is Business Management and Leadership. During the period of this class students learn hands-on how to run and work in a business. Students are all employees of their business—The Mustang Market— a shop on campus. 

This year, students in the Human Resources department of the capstone level have implemented a mentorship program for the first and second levels of the academy. Every two capstone students are assigned to three to six students in Intro to Business and Business Communications and Technology, creating a “big buddy little buddy” environment.

Toward the start of the mentorship program, capstone students sent each lower-level student a welcoming note with a lollipop. This invited the students to email their buddy back and forth with any questions or comments they may have. 

After getting to know their big buddy, students from Ms. Romero’s fourth and fifth period were invited to shadow the capstone level students for a day. Through this experience students were invited to choose one department (Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, and Inventory) to shadow during the class period. This allowed students to get an idea of what department they would like to be involved in during the third level of the Business Academy. 

On Thursday, March 26th, every level of business was invited to a field day during lunch. It consisted of 2 events: a relay race and sharks and minnows. Students competed against each other in these games creating a fun and competitive experience between each grade.

During the relay race the capstone level started strong in a 3-legged race, with the Communications class not far behind. Once students from the 3-legged race reached the end the next student hopped their way to the finish line in a sack race. Capstone students held a strong lead, but Communications and Intro to Business were always close in second and third place. To finish off the relay race the last two of the group crawled to the end in a wheelbarrow race. 

After the relay race, every student played sharks and minnows together. This experience was very enjoyable for students and winners were rewarded with popsicles at the end of the day. Alex Zavala (11) describes that the day “united all of the different levels of the academy” and allowed everyone to have a great time together. 

Currently, students in the capstone level have begun to plan a social with all levels of the Business Academy. This social will allow students to get to know each other while learning about everything the Business Academy has to offer. 

Vice President of Human Resources Kaitlyn Joe (11) expresses the purpose of the “mentorship program is to excite students for what’s to come in the business program” and encourage them to get involved. This small gesture helps build connections and makes the newer students feel supported as they continue in the program.