Marketing students create 'Apprentice'-style project

El Dorado Springs, Mo. -- "Your Fired!" -- words made famous recently by Donald Trump, are words that the marketing II class of El Dorado Springs High School did not hear on May 10. The small class took their final exam Trump style -- by doing a project for community businesses and planning customer appreciation activities for those businesses.

El Dorado Cycle and Fugate Motors came forward to assist the students and give them the opportunity to get real marketing experience and understand what is needed to make a business stand above the others. The 12 students were separated into two teams and had to represent each business fairly and as best as possible. Their teacher, Vickie Hillsman, made it as close to the show as possible. The students were told one day what the assignment was and were given the 24-hour period to research their respective business and the next day they met the owners of the business to learn what each owner expected.

The Outlaws, led by project manager Nikki Friar, promoted El Dorado Cycle. Her teammates included were Stephen Donnelly, Michael Thomason, Jordon Kirbey, Abby Brower and Corey Ketchum. Team Fusion, led by project manager Megan Thorn, promoted Fugate Motors. Her Teammates were Nick Carter, Alex Boonyakiti, Jordon Cantrell, Dominic Rogers and Ashley Norman.

Both teams were successful at bringing in the public for the businesses. Fugate Motors had twice as many people come out for their customer appreciation day than they have had in recent years. El Dorado Cycle had more than 200 people, many for the first time, visit the store. Teams gave away door prizes at each location to help lure folks in. The prizes ranged from digital camera's, oil changes, and an IPOD at Fugate Motors to name a few. El Dorado Cycle gave away items, from keychains to Branson show tickets and tickets to the Kansas City Royals.