Student-run conference lets high school students experience life at U of G

This coming May, high school students will have the opportunity to experience university life as part of the Students Engaging, Educating and Developing other Students (SEEDS) Conference at the University of Guelph. The two-day event, which is being organized by 18 Bachelor of Commerce students as part of their senior-level business course in leadership and communication, is expected to draw business-minded high school student delegates from across southwestern Ontario to engage in fun and interactive learning.

"We are a group of upper year students who have been really involved during our time at the University of Guelph and student organizations, case competitions and conferences have been the highlights of our university careers,” said Cayley Littlejohn, one of the student organizers. “We want to get high school students involved early through the SEEDS Conference. We hope that the students will get a better idea of what university life is like in preparation for their post-secondary education, as well as experience what the business program at the University of Guelph has to offer."

During SEEDS, delegates will live, eat and study just like typical University of Guelph business students. The conference agenda includes:

• Spending a night at the newest renovated residence at the University of Guelph
• Getting a sense of student life at Guelph with campus tours, including an exclusive tour of the new business building
• Networking with current business students, faculty, alumni and industry representatives
• Experiencing some of the best on-campus food in Canada
• Learning and developing skills to help prepare for post-secondary education
• Participating in various workshops and events, including a networking workshop, team-building activities, case cracking workshops - all culminating in the GryphBiz Case Competition

“The SEEDS Conference is truly about Students Engaging, Educating and Developing Students,” said professor Kathleen Rodenburg, who teaches the course. “In this course we are able harness the energy and pride experienced by business students at the University of Guelph. The SEEDS Conference demonstrates the incredible competence and leadership skills they have developed, while providing a great opportunity for high school students to better visualize their university experience.”

The SEEDS Conference will take place May 5 to 6 at the University of Guelph. For more information, visit the SEEDS Conference page on the College of Business and Economics website.