Last week Otago Boys' High School represented the Otago region at the Young Enterprise Scheme National Awards in Wellington.

Otago regional winners OAK Cologne were represented by CEO Thomas Geary and CFO Jackson Toms. Thomas and Jackson had to pitch their innovative solid cologne to a panel of 5 judges who then followed this up with an Q&A session. Although unplaced, the feedback from the judges was extremely positive about the boys business and they were told that they were in the conversation when deciding the top three. Otago Boys' were also represented at the Gala Dinner by EduCard NZ CEO Sam Hewson and CFO Henry Wilson. They represented a 5 man team that produced a NZ Trivia Game. On the evening EduCard NZ picked up TWO National Excellence Awards for the best in Sales & Marketing and best in Accounting & Finance. Twelve National Excellence Awards are competed for by over 1000 YES teams during the course of a year and for Otago Boys' High School to walk away with TWO was an unbelievable achievement.

After the fanfare of the gala dinner the teams the following day visited Old Boy the Hon David Parker at his office in Parliament. Minister Parker's staff gave the boys a tour of his office as well as arranging a private visit to the Prime Ministers Office.

The YES National Awards bought the curtain down on another successful year in Business Studies at Otago Boys' High School and with the best part of 50 students enrolled for the course in 2020 there are high hopes that Otago Boys' can put together a trifecta of regional wins. With that in mind, we are always looking for local mentors or business minded individuals that could work individually or in an advisory board capacity with our students. If you would like to be part of the Young Enterprise Scheme in 2020 at Otago Boys' High School please contact Mr Gwyn Pratley, TiC Business Studies via his email gwyn.pratley@obhs.school.nz