Each high school sent eight students to participate in a variety of tests on subjects related to business management and technology. The event was a competition to see who demonstrated the most knowledge of subjects selected in part by business education students at the university.

The subjects, accounting, business communications, business fundamentals, business law, cybersecurity, presentation software and spreadsheets, are meant to challenge students on various aspects of business and related technology.

“It’s kind of like a science fair,” said Jan Repnow, the event’s organizer and assistant professor in the MSU Department of Business. “This is in regards to the event being something the teachers plan for through the year, and something the students know about well in advance,” she said.

“(The event is a) joint effort among business education students and myself,” said Repnow. She explained the purpose of the event is to showcase the students’ skills and promote cybersecurity. Repnow has been involved for the last 17 years.

Submitted Photo Students from area high schools attended a Tech Day at Minot State University on Wednesday. It is an annual event showcasing area secondary business students as they compete in various business and technology-related competitions.

“It’s just amazing to watch the students go from here to compete at FBLA conference and beyond,” Repnow said. She said the tests from this event mimic those very closely.

Repnow said she and the business education students at the college “strive to model the strategies that other competitions will require so it’s great practice.”

Ann Crosby, a student from Bowbells High School, said she put together a presentation about her business department to present to judges. She said the experience was really fun because competitors were pitted against students they knew from other activities like sports so conversations crossed subjects. Crosby said there was a workshop and the students all worked together. She was excited because the event gave her “practice for not only FBLA, but for real life.” According to her, the event gives the students some context to what they’ve learned, and it offers an opportunity to practice their skills.

Clara Ankenbauer, a student from Bowbells High School, said her school is “super involved” in FBLA, which is the Future Business Leaders of America. Ankenbauer said her school uses this event as a practice run for their state conference in the spring.

Rebecca Maroney, also a student from Bowbells High School, said she took a spreadsheets test, which quizzed a student’s general knowledge of different aspects of working with Microsoft Excel.

Cole Krueger, MSU’s marketing director, said Repnow, who has been running Tech Day for years, is “kind of a legend on campus.” Krueger helped at the event as a volunteer, scooping ice cream for the students.

Krueger challenged the students to get comfortable saying, “I don’t know,” and finding the resources they need to be successful. He also challenged the students to keep finding opportunities similar to the event and continue challenging themselves.