Red Raider Marketing Scores

Fall semester was more than exciting for the Kahuku High and Intermediate School community, and now comes the solid proof: The Kahuku Educational Alliance Corp. (KEAC) and its student volunteers were able to raise $18,000 to directly benefit the school through its online marketing enterprise and campus store, Kahuku.org.

“Our best-seller this year was the Kahuku football state championship shirt,” declared Alicia Esche, who runs the store and oversees its student employees and volunteers. “Without the community buying the products from Kahuku.org, we would not be able to raise the money. Community support and the winning football season came together … to help our teachers and our students.”

Kahuku Educational Alliance Corp

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Kahuku Educational Alliance Corp. gave $18,000 to its campus Internet store March 5. Present are KEAC adviser (from left) MaryAnne Long, Kahuku Film Club sponsor and digital media teacher Debra Barenaba (behind Long), intern Noel Morris, KEAC volunteer Allbet Wilkens, KEAC program manager Alicia Esche, principal Donna Lindsey, football coach Reggie Torres, KEAC president Keoki Wallace, board member Tom Cross and (back) KHS football players. Photo from Don Sand.

Kahuku.org is a fundraising arm of the nonprofit KEAC, which is dedicated to nudging students along their career path via school programs and activities. As co-founder MaryAnne Long explained, the online store also is an entrepreneurial training ground. Students get the chance to learn marketing strategies in order to maintain Web Presence and the skills obtained can be used throughout their careers as they develop.

At the March 5 check presentation ceremony, three outstanding student volunteers also were recognized for their role in earning the big kala for the school: Andrea Pouesi, Peka Siilata and Nico Langley. Their secret was enthusiastic street sales, shirt-waving on the road and more. All are active in the digital media classes and Kahuku Film Club which did the fundraising as a service project.

Together with art/digital media teacher Debra Barenaba and media services director Don Sand, the students learn to produce commercials and other school marketing efforts as well.

“The Kahuku.org business model not only benefits the school,” Sand said, “but also gives student interns valuable experience in real-life business skills.” As in $18,000 worth. Add to that pride of a 2011 state football title and loyal fans’ demand for Red Raider logo goods and you’ve got a very hot marketing project with record sales.

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