SSHS’ Kai Kai Company is NMI’s first JA competition champ

Saipan Southern High School emerged victorious in the first-ever Junior Achievement competition in the CNMI after its entry, Kai Kai Company, swept major awards, including five major titles, during Saturday morning’s awarding rites.

The Junior Achievement program aims to cultivate work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy among students by engaging them in the practical experience of running a business. This year, five school teams joined the competition that ran from January to April—with the goal of bringing to the table a unique product for consumers. All teams showcased their output in a trade fair at a recent Thursday night Street Market.

Kai Kai’s Co. was named Company of the Year for its winning “Skeezaball,” a stress-relieving ball for adults and a novelty item for children, which appealed to both judges and consumers at the trade fair.

Its chief executive officer Zachary Sablan was also hailed President of the Year after demonstrating excellent leadership and capability in the actual handling of an enterprise.

Prior to the awarding rites, Sablan said it is his dream to become a successful businessman not only in the CNMI but the entire Pacific region. When asked to share his experiences in the 12 weeks they worked on their businesses, Sablan said: “I walked in with fear, and I walked out with pride.”

He later told Saipan Tribune that his award would not have been possible without the cooperation and teamwork put in by all 25 “employees,” their teachers and volunteer business leaders who mentored the team. “So I share this honor with all of them.”

He has only four words for future entrepreneurs: “Work with the deadlines.”

The judges also bestowed on Kai Kai Co. three other major awards: Best in Trade Fair, Best Annual Report, and Yoshihiro Yagi as Best Vice-President for Production.

Yagi disclosed that the company started with a $350 capital, sourced from each member’s $5 shares of stocks. The seed capital was used mainly to buy locally made materials for the “Skeezaball.”

The group sold 95 units of “Skeezaball” during their presentation at the Garapan Street Market, mostly to tourists and children at $3.99 apiece. Yagi shared that the company made a profit of about $500, minus expenditures. The team is thinking of either passing the money on to future JA members at SSHS or for a victory party for members.

Yagi cited the importance of proper management as one of the biggest lessons he learned from the whole JA experience.

SSHS principal Jesse Tudela expressed his appreciation to the team members and their mentors for coming up with a unique product that can go beyond the JA competition. Seeing the hard work and products of all the teams makes Tudela confident that the JA program will produce more and more business leaders and entrepreneurs for the CNMI.

Other awardees

Kagman High School’s Sustainable Solutions also went home victorious after it bagged the competition’s Best Business Presentation and Commercial Award for its “Eco-ball” product. The team’s Akeiko Dela Cruz was also hailed Best Vice President for Finance.

The Perseverance Award was bestowed on Tinian High School’s Tag Attire company while Marianas High School’s Bendi received the competition’s Best Vice President for Human Resource Award for Daphne Dela Cruz.

Rota High School’s Sweatz company received the Best Vice President of Marketing award for Austin Delos Santos and Best Vice President for Public Relations for Romela De Guzman.

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan described the JA competition as very competitive and was amazed by the quality of products that were showcased by the students. Because of the success of this first JA contest, she said the Public School System will start the process earlier next year.

Besides the major awards, Board of Education member Galvin Deleon Guerrero, as JA program coordinator for the CNMI, also presented certificates of recognition to all program partners in government and private businesses who volunteered to mentor the school teams.