Oakwood Students Partner with Local Businesses to Turn Ideas into Impact

“Learn by doing” has long been an education approach that teaches students more than just concepts–and at Oakwood High School, this philosophy has been put into action. Under the guidance of Dr. Cameron Helvey, students in the Entrepreneurship and Business Management class have stepped into the professional world through a hands-on capstone project. The initiative, inspired by junior Gabriella Zelenyak, connects students with local businesses to tackle challenges using student-driven perspectives. Teaming up with the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and its President and CEO, Nicholas Gaich, the six student-led teams have been working directly with local organizations across the community. Their efforts span from social media strategy, community outreach, and brand development, giving students a front row seat to modern business practices. “I wanted myself and other students to have a real-world experience while helping local businesses in our community,” Zelenyak noted about the project's emphasis on real, experiential learning. Among the participating groups is a team collaborating with Morgan Hill Orthopedic Sports Therapy–a local provider within The PRO Performance Therapy Group. The business specializes in physical therapy through evidence-based care. Sophomores Tanner Ota and Avani Kumar, along with senior Isabelle Anderson, make up the student team partnered with the organization. As part of the project, the team is applying marketing concepts in a real-world setting by promoting the organization’s upcoming Women’s Wellness Workshop. Scheduled for Thursday, May 7th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., the workshop aims to educate and empower women through wellness strategies. With limited seating available, community members interested in attending the workshop can register by scanning the QR code on the event flyer. As the program comes to a close, the work done by the students puts on full display the power of experiential learning–learning by doing, and creating connections with the local community.

Entrepreneurship Class Capstone Project Photo Album