THUNDER BAY — As a first-year business marketing student at Confederation College, Kaesin Tegosh wasn’t quite sure what to expect as he and his classmates started to put together their products to sell at the school this week.
However, once he learned that all the proceeds were going to charity, he was all in.
“I was ready to get going and raise as much money as I could,” Tegosh said.
Tegosh sold head covers for golf clubs made from household materials – such as jeans and jean jackets – as part of the school’s Enterprise Challenge Upcycled Market Days, which started Monday and concludes on Thursday.
“Honestly, we did pretty good,” Tegosh said. “I was honestly surprised with how well we did because there aren’t a lot of golfers around here, but we had some very helpful students help us out.
“Someone’s dad came and bought three head covers. That was amazing.”
All of the funds that were raised by the first-year students in Confederation’s business programs go to the college’s Emergency Student Food Bank.
Over the last five years, a total of $15,000 has been raised for the Food Bank.
“We’re hoping to raise $3,000 this year and we’re halfway to that goal already through two days,” said Kristina Baraskewich, who is the program coordinator for the business marketing program at the college.
“For us, it’s all about students giving back to the students. We really want to support that mission and to give back to their fellow students is something that we want to be part of their experience while they are here.”
One hundred and thirty-eight students were involved in this year’s market days, which saw them selling items such as candles, plant holders, aprons and pallet trees.
“This has really helped me how to run a business, the risks that are involved and the teamwork that you need,” Tegosh said.
“My confidence has a grown a lot since we started. I wasn’t able to talk to people before but now I’m able to with it when people come to our booth.”
Market Days wraps up Thursday and runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Shuniah student lounge and outside of Ryan Hall.
