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In June 2025, Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s College of Business launched its first-ever Cardinals in Command summer camp, a three-day immersive experience designed to introduce local high school students to the dynamic world of business. The pilot program welcomed 40 students and was offered completely free of charge, thanks to the generous support of the College of Business Advisory Board. 

Over the course of the program, students explored foundational areas of business such as leadership, marketing, management information systems, and finance through interactive sessions led by College of Business faculty. From developing digital content like reels and participating in marketing challenges, to analyzing investment strategies in the university’s financial lab, campers were immersed in hands-on learning that brought real-world business concepts to life. 

Drs. Brad Mayer and Toni Mulvaney kicked off the camp with a day of leadership. Beginning with an introduction to “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, the students discussed the qualities of good leaders and identified their own goals and values through a self-assessment activity.

The students then participated in Ford vs. Chevy, an activity that challenged students to apply their leadership and critical thinking skills through a team-based survival scenario and a spirited debate exercise.

Dr. Mulvaney was “impressed with their enthusiasm and commitment to the activities,” as the students understood the growing need in business to collaborate and engage meaningfully with their work. 

Dr. Mayer also commended the students on their participation and performance, stating that the “group has incredible potential to become tomorrow’s leaders.” 

The second day of Cardinals in Command, led by Drs. Komal Karani and Kakoli Bandyopadhyay, allowed students to explore the world of marketing and data analytics, respectively. Dr. Karani introduced brand building and the factors behind consistent brand personality. She then challenged the students to create a reel promoting the summer camp, to put their new knowledge to use, where participants had just 30 seconds at each location to film an engaging reel.

Dr. Karani enjoyed the engagement from her students and “hopes to see some of these students again in her class in the future.”  

Dr. Bandyopadhyay gave students the opportunity to become business analysts. In her session, students utilized the theory of system thinking, which allowed them to see how changes in inputs can affect outcomes.

“Seeing students realize how a small data change could impact business performance was a powerful learning moment,” Bandyopadhyay said.

Finance-focused activities included simulated stock market investing and an introduction to financial literacy, offering campers a practical understanding of personal money management. 

Participants also had the unique opportunity to meet Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Dr. Jaime Taylor and Provost Dr. Brett Welch, gaining insight into what it takes to lead a university at the highest level. The camp concluded with a farewell ceremony that highlighted the achievements of the campers. Amy Lovoi, CEO of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, gave an inspiring keynote speech and presented the campers with their certificate of completion.  

“The Summer Camp at a business school is not a very common activity at a university,” Dean Joby John said. “In my view, the College of Business is a resource of instruction in any aspect of business, so I felt it was a good vehicle to provide high school students to get an exploratory view of what college students learn in a business program.” 

With plans already underway to offer the camp annually, the College of Business hopes to continue expanding the program’s reach. While a small registration fee may be introduced in future years, the focus will remain on providing high-impact, exploratory learning experiences to the next generation of business leaders. 

“We’re excited about what this can become,” John said. “It’s a new tradition for the College of Business—and we expect to learn with this next generation about the future of business.” 

To learn more about summer camp opportunities at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, visit /summer-camps/index.html.