A group of Wichita State University business students will get the unique experience this week to apply learning from the classroom to current, real-world economics.

This is made possible through a new mentorship program organized by the Wichita Area Outlook Team (WAOT), called "WAOT Link to Learn," in which 10 W. Frank Barton School of Business students are paired with some of the area's top business leaders to attend the Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference on Oct. 9.

“We really want to engage students in a different way,” said Jeremy Hill, director of the business school’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research, the group that organizes the conference each year. “We want them to have those applied-learning experiences and get students something they wouldn’t have in their normal class experience.”

The conference provides insight into current local and national economies, addressing topics of interest to the community, region and state. National and local experts will give presentations on issues affecting business, industry, education and government.

It’s an experience Hill says will be invaluable to students.

“This is a way to kind of propel them into the business community,” he said. “You’ve spent all these years studying, now is the time for you to really think about getting into that community. This is an open door.”

Local job growth

The students met with their WAOT mentors a few weeks ago to get acquainted before the conference. Kayla Bontrager, a senior studying management at the Barton School of Business, was paired with Mis Gaston, mall manager at Towne West Square.

“Before the first meeting, I didn’t realize what our economic growth is in Wichita and in Kansas,” Bontrager said. “It’s really good information about wages, employment, who’s going to hire and when.”

Westar Energy is sponsoring the Link to Learn program this year. Don Sherman, vice president of Community Relations and Strategic Partnerships with Westar, says the mentorship program correlates with his company’s new initiative “Electrify Your Future” in which Westar will partner with area educational institutes to encourage local job creation.

“We are putting on a full-court press to reach out to the youth in our community,” said Sherman, who is also serving as a mentor at the conference. “In the next five years or so, 50 percent of our workforce at Westar Energy will be eligible to retire.”

This is a trend Hill said is advantageous to Wichita State business graduates.

“In our market, business professionals are what’s in the highest demand,” Hill said. “That’s the fastest-growing sector right now … Potential employees need to fill that baby boom gap.”

More demand than expected

The invitation to get involved in WAOT Link to Learn was available to every Barton School of Business student. The 10 who were selected come from a variety of academic areas, including business administration, accounting and international business. Even students with double majors, such as in psychology and Spanish, are in this year’s program.

“It’s a little telling that students from many different disciplines, not just economics, saw the value in this,” Hill said. “And I think that’s an encouraging sign for our student population.

Hill says the demand for the program will keep it going in following years.

‘Add value to my young career’

Besides help from their mentors, the students will also be surrounded by a wealth of business expertise at the conference. Representatives from Textron Aviation, The Martens Companies, the MIT International Center for Air Transportation, Sprit AeroSystems and more will be in attendance.

Wichita State will also be involved in the conference at the Century II Convention Hall. The university has taken an increasingly prominent role in the area’s economic leadership and business innovation. Hill, President John Bardo and Provost and Senior Vice President Tony Vizzini are all scheduled to participate.

Camilo Ramirez De La Barra, a senior studying finance, said he got involved to learn more about professional opportunities in Wichita. Sherman will be his mentor at the conference.

“This gives me the chance to open my network and meet professionals who one way or another will add some value to my young career,” he said. “I think this program is of considerable help for every student and gives each one of us more opportunities.”