The James Logan Courier

By Cait Baca, Courier Staff Writer

Logan's Marketing & Management Academy traveled across the country to New York to compete at the Virtual Enterprises' International Trade Fair last month.

This particular Trade Fair is considered the biggest trade fair that the members of the M&M Academy would ever attend. It was their first, and only trade fair in which not only were there numerous schools based from USA, but there were schools around the world in attendance, as well.


Countries represented at the fair included Romania, Norway, Australia, Austria, England, Malaysia, Jamaica, Brazil, and Georgia.

Virtual Enterprise International (VE) is a simulated business environment in which students present business plans in competition with other schools. The students are involved in actual on the job work experiences, including accounting, personnel administration, management and marketing. The only difference between the students' virtual enterprises and an actual business is that no real goods are produced or money exchanged. However, services are be provided.

As a participant in the M&M Academy, I had the privilege of going to New York with me fellow classmates. I've never met so many people from so many countries in one setting. They were all very welcoming, and didn't seem to focus on solely on competition, and sometimes were unprofessional, unlike the usual experience at such events..

"This was the only Trade Fair this year that we did not win anything, we didn't place, we didn't even receive an Honorable Mention," said senior Dario Puccini.

As a result, meeting new people was the only real highlight at the Trade Fair.

Besides the Trade Fair, the M&M Academy had the opportunity to explore
what New York had to offer. For most of us, it was our first time in New
York. Everything from the painfully cold weather, aggressive New Yorkers,
expense of Taxi Cabs to just the overall setting of New York was an
overwhelming experience for us.

"It was great! I had an awesome time. Its rare for a teenager to be able to travel so far, with people you're close to. I learned and saw
things in New York I wouldn't be able to see in California. New York is
one of a kind." said Senior Katarina Lovric.

Logan's stayed in the center the city in Times Square, and got to see exactly what New York had to offer not only in Manhattan, but many of the
other famous areas of New York. We went to Harlem, where we visited
the World-Famous Apollo Theatre for their Amateur Night. We took many
tours,on and off land, and saw the Statue Liberty, Ellis Island
and many other landmarks. In addition, the class saw the Broadway show, Stomp.

"It was cool going everywhere, it was a different experience because
I've only seen New York on TV. It was nice to live it for a little
first hand, and go to places like Brooklyn, and Soho, that I've only
heard about it," said Senior Cameron Erickson.

The M&M Academy left for New York March 22 and got back
March 27.