Hopkins students get early start on business

Seventeen-year-old Lauren Vickers and Jake Anderson aren't exactly who you would expect to be hobnobbing at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. But beginning this month, they'll be there.

Vickers, Anderson and eight classmates from Hopkins High School became full-fledged members of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce at a kickoff event for them and their parents on Thursday.

The new program is the result of a partnership between TwinWest, the Hopkins School District and TDS Metrocom of Eagan.

TwinWest President Barbara Obershaw said it's the third school district-chamber partnership the company has sponsored in the metro area. Arlington High School in St. Paul and Eden Prairie High School have similar programs.

"I want to see how business people relate to each other ," Vickers said. "I think by showing an interest in their community, business people make a very big difference."

Vickers, a high school junior who addresses adults as "ma'am" and "sir," said she's interested in a career in law or business.

Anderson, of Minnetonka, said he knows that TwinWest is an affiliation of business people but definitely wants to know more about the organization. "I know it's a good opportunity," said Anderson, who plans to pursue a business degree after high school.

Obershaw said TwinWest members realize that the students might not know much about their programs. But that won't be the case a few months from now.

"They're going to be thrown into the adult professional world," Obershaw said.

At the kickoff, Obershaw said, the students learned about the chamber's emerging-leaders program for young professionals, the government- affairs committee and networking events. Their memberships last until the students graduate from high school -- giving them more than a year to network with local business and government leaders.

TDS Metrocom is footing the bill. The chamber's membership rate for students is about $250 per person per year.

Hopkins High School Principal Willie Jett said TwinWest approached the school about the idea in late November.

Teachers and other school staff were asked to nominate juniors for the program, Jett said. Some of the students belong to DECA, a national organization of high school and college students interested in marketing; others are less familiar with business.

Before the kickoff, Jett applauded business people for investing their time and money in what he called the metro area's greatest asset -- its young people.

"They came to us and said, 'Hey, we want young people's perspectives,'" Jett said. "It's a real partnership and our kids will benefit."

The students will receive business cards to distribute at chamber events. In a few months, they'll be asked to give TwinWest feedback about its programs.

"They're our future pipeline of leaders," Obershaw said. "This is earlier exposure for them and a way to get them involved and nurture their interests."

Patrice Relerford • 612-673-4395