{"id":211836,"date":"2026-03-09T17:26:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T17:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/211836\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T17:26:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T17:26:17","slug":"fruitvale-junior-high-students-shine-during-first-year-of-virtual-enterprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/211836\/","title":{"rendered":"Fruitvale Junior High Students Shine During First Year of Virtual Enterprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fresh off competing in the Virtual Enterprises (VE) Western Regional Trade Show recently, students from Fruitvale Junior High had another opportunity to put their business skills to the test \u2014 pitching their company and product to Kern County Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Mendiburu during a recent visit to their campus.<\/p>\n

This year marks the first time Fruitvale Junior High has participated in the Virtual Enterprise program \u2014 a program typically introduced at the high school level \u2014 and students are already stepping into roles that mirror the professional world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The Halo Case<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a Virtual Enterprise (VE) classroom, students move beyond memorization to master high-level workplace competencies,\u201d said Fruitvale\u2019s Virtual Enterprise teacher Cari Walker. \u201cThe shift from a \u2018student\u2019 to an \u2018employee\u2019 mindset fundamentally changes how these skills are developed compared to a traditional classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

What began as a brand-new opportunity quickly turned into an award-winning experience. During Dr. Mendiburu\u2019s recent visit to the campus, students proudly shared highlights from their first competition.<\/p>\n

Their product, the Halo Case, is a subscription-based service that allows users to change the design of their phone case without purchasing multiple cases. By offering a single case with interchangeable designs, the students aimed to provide a stylish alternative that is more environmentally sustainable, reducing the number of discarded phone cases that typically end up in landfills.<\/p>\n

The class earned multiple first and second place awards and generated nearly $33,000 in sales during the regional competition \u2014 an impressive accomplishment for a team navigating the competitive business simulation for the first time.<\/p>\n

But their journey wasn\u2019t without challenges.<\/p>\n

During one competition, the team lost nearly 50 sales due to technical difficulties and several transactions that were not recorded. For many first-year programs, that kind of setback could have been discouraging. Instead, the students regrouped and worked together to quickly recover a majority of their sales.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a Virtual Enterprise (VE) classroom, students move beyond memorization to master high-level workplace competencies.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u2013 Cari Walker, Fruitvale\u2019s Virtual Enterprise teacher.<\/p>\n

Before reaching the competition stage, students first had the opportunity to test their skills at smaller events. Earlier in the academic year, the class participated in a mini trade show at CTEC, where middle school and high school teams bought and sold products with one another in a simulated business environment.<\/p>\n

At many established programs, students may inherit a product idea developed by the previous year\u2019s class, allowing them to focus primarily on refining their sales and marketing strategies. However, as a first-year program, the students at Fruitvale had to develop their product and skills from the ground up.<\/p>\n

Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, the team embraced the challenge.<\/p>\n

The hands-on experience also changed many students\u2019 perceptions of what they initially expected from the course.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is much different than what I thought it was going to be,\u201d said Desiree, an eighth grader. \u201cBut it ended up being so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kensely, also in eighth grade, admitted she underestimated the rigor of the class.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis course is much different from what I thought it was going to be,\u201d she said. \u201cI thought it would be easier, but I love it so much more because we get to do something different every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the challenges they faced during competitions, events, and even team practices, Kensely says the class has learned to rely on one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all help each other out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The program is already shaping how students see their futures. Through field trips to Centennial High School, students observed how Virtual Enterprise continues at the high school level, where juniors and seniors can participate in the program.<\/p>\n

Walker says the experience is already making a noticeable impact on her students.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, their public speaking has improved tremendously,\u201d Walker said. \u201cSome of my quieter students have stepped up as leaders and taken charge of their departments. I\u2019ve even had students who once questioned why I chose them for leadership roles ask to interview for CEO positions next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walker says those moments are exactly what the program is designed to create \u2014 opportunities for students to grow, take ownership, and experience the realities of teamwork and leadership in a workplace environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been really rewarding to watch my students grow through real-world experiences,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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