WARRENSBURG, Mo. - University of Central Missouri
students continue to give back to the community while learning from
experience as they present more than $17,000 to area not-for-profit
groups.

The donations are the profits generated by the groups of students
enrolled in the Integrative Business Experience, a course in UCM’s
Harmon College of Business Administration.

Each semester, several groups of students enroll in the course, for which they develop a product,
acquire financing for manufacturing and marketing, and develop and
implement their own marketing strategies. At the end of the semester,
profits made from these ventures are donated to a charity selected by
the each group at the beginning of the semester, in addition to
community service provided by the groups.

During Fall 2009 semester, three groups participated in the course
designed to provide real-life experience in the basics of business.

● MULEstrong marketed long-sleeved Mules T-shirts, realizing gross
revenues of $7,456. The net profit of $4,783 was presented to the
Show-Me Christian Youth Home, along with 704 community service hours
performed.

● Habitat Hoodies marketed a custom-designed hooded sweatshirt.
Gross revenues for the group were $12,455. The profit of $7,201 was
presented to Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County. In addition, 385
community service hours benefitted the Warrensburg Veterans Home.

● FrostPint designed and sold UCM frosted glass. With gross
revenues of $11,842, the net profit of $5,223, along with 340 community
service hours, benefitted Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Johnson
County.

Since the course was first opened for enrollment during Spring Semester
2004, UCM’s Integrative Business Experience has generated more than
$288,000 in gross revenues, with net profits of more than $156,000 being
distributed to a variety of local and national charities. In addition to
the monetary contributions, UCM students enrolled in the course have
donated 8,330 community service hours.