Vocational Service

Bridging the Gap between School and Career

Business and Personal Financial Simulations

1. Buying and running a business. BPS (Business Plan Simulation)

Four to five students per team are formed. Teams answer an ad "to buy a deli." Teams prepare and use a business plan with Profit and Loss statement. Rotarians serve as "consultants." Teams apply for "a loan" to bankers Bankers grant "loans" at varying terms. Teams project second year result, then present an updated plan to bankers. When time permits, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow should be used. If not they should be explained as part of an overall plan. Teams are evaluated. Diplomas and letter from Rotary District Governor are presented.

2. Personal Financial Plan program. PFP (Personal Financial Plan)

Two to three students per "family" are formed and are assumed to have graduated from High School 8 - 10 years ago. Last year's family financial report is reviewed. Rotarians are the Coordinator(s). Bankers, Accountants and Financial Planners are consultants. "Families" prepare second year budget and bank applications. "Families" apply for loan to buy a home. Problems occur, doctor's bills, insurance, education etc.. Third year personal Financial Profit and Loss statement, Balance Sheets and Cash Flow are prepared. Result: Families either break even, make or lose money. Consultants judge performance and grant loan conditions. Diplomas and letter from Rotary District Governor are presented.

3. Advanced BPS Program

Should only be done after students are familiar with above and are Comfortable with Profit and Loss, Balance Sheets and Cash Flow. Confidentiality agreement is signed. Students work in cooperation with teachers and Rotarian Consultants, evaluate local business and do research on that business. Students prepare business plan based on their evaluation and recommend possible changes to up grade of business operation and efficiency. Businesses pay all expenses in connection with research etc. Businesses pay a fee to student for future education.

Princeton Rotary's Bridging The Gap

Princeton Rotary Club
"Bridges the Gap"

Rotary International has a principal focus on education in over 205 countries around the globe. The Rotary Club of Princeton has contributed to this initiative in various ways. Most evident in our local community for the past 5 years has been the "Bridging the Gap" program at Princeton High School.

The program was designed by three Rotarians who for over 20 years acted as volunteer "Board Members" of various model corporations at NYU's Stern Graduate School of Business. As represented by the title, the program intends to "Bridge the Gap" between school and career and adds relevance to conventional teaching through a simulated business model.

"The Grateful Deli" company is being run by PHS students
Brian Sustak, Matt Flotteron, Kelsey Holstein and Sophia Qasir

This past semester, the program was instituted in 2 classes at PHS; one in the Entrepreneurial course taught by Craig Haywood and the other in the Personal Finance Course taught by Lisa Bergman. The class taught by Mr. Haywood challenges the students to develop a plan for opening a delicatessen, and focuses on the practical finances of applying for a business loan from a "real" banker. The banker for this program was Steven Forleiter, Commercial Lender at Commerce Bank in Mercerville.

"Garden Place Type State Deli" is being proposed by PHS students
Emma Franklin, Emma Kruse, Melaney Kanda and Miriam Gabriel

In Ms. Bergman's Personal Finance class, students worked on the financial challenges of buying a first home including: budget planning for the future "financial health" of the family, raising the down payment and then applying to a banker for a home mortgage. The banker in this scenario was Rotarian, David MacKinnon of Smith Barney in Lawrenceville.

PHS students Zack Kleinbart, Allen Bryant & Matt Young present
their proposal for Munchies Juicy Burgers to the banker.  Other team
Eric Frantz was absent during this presentation.

The courses are 6 weeks and 3 weeks respectively with Rotarians participating one day a week in both classes. This fall, 10 Rotarians served as consultants in the classes.

A class will generally be divided into groups of 4 to 5 students to a team, each team saddled with the same task. Rotarians serve as consultants to each team which competes with the others to get the best possible outcome, loan terms, loan rate, budget planning, etc. In the program, the teams are presented with budget considerations that occur in real life situations.

Entrepreneurs Kim Wright, Sammie Hayden, Corey Marsh and
Trisha Wilson present their plans for Le Petit Grand Café at PHS

Students often say of the program, "It helps me understand how my course work helps prepare me for the future." "I learned the importance of team work." and "I might better select my course of study for the future based on my likes and dislikes." The teachers typically report that the program helps the students better relate to their regular courses of study. The Administrators accept the Rotary program as a part of the teaching curriculum.

A company named "Munchies" is being proposed by PHS students
Casey Henderson, Michelle Hofman, Bridget Slade & Meredith Murphy.
Not pictured is Haley Randazzo who was absent that day.

"Bridging the Gap" has been offered in Princeton High School for over 5 years and involved over 20 Rotarians, 4 teachers and PHS Administrators. With rave revues from the students and faculty of PHS, this program will likely continue throughout the spring semester and many years to follow. "Bridging the Gap" is offered in some 20 different high schools in the central New Jersey district of Rotary.