Van Pools Blog

In February of 2011 VPSI began mentoring students at the American Charter Academy in Wasilla, Alaska. The students were challenged to a unique competition that involved teams of students to come up with an entire marketing plan for the Mat Su Borough’s new vanpool program, “Alaska Vanpool”. The students learned about alternate transportation options, including vanpooling. Each team would develop a marketing program from beginning to end and would receive guidance and advice from VPSI along the way. The winning team’s program would then be funded by VPSI up to $5,000.00. Each team of students worked hard for months to refine their ideas. They worked entirely on their own time, and even got together on weekends and after school.

Our celebrity judges Jed Smith with the Alaska Center for the Environment and Patty Sullivan with the Mat Su Borough Public Affairs Office had their work cut out for them. Each group had unique and wonderful ideas. However, the winning program involved all of the aspects of a successful marketing campaign. Their entire campaign involved an artistic rendering of the Valley Van on the road to “Saving Money Ahead” for promotional posters, a magnet that describes the “dizzying gas prices” and the savings they would realize by vanpooling instead. The centerpiece of their program involved a commercial for YouTube audiences that could be attached to a web ad via the local newspaper.

The campaign was so impressive that Anchorage Share-A-Ride matched the $5,000.00 that VPSI initially invested. These very talented high school students can now put the creation of a professional marketing campaign on their college admission applications. On December 15^th, each member of the winning team was given a commemorative plaque and a $100 Visa gift card at a ceremony, held in front the entire school. As a special bonus VPSI was able to donate $1,000.00 to the Academy’s “Student Success” scholarship program. Becky Huggins, the Principal, said that the students found a lot of confidence through the process and were really proud of all that they accomplished.

Left to right, the members of the winning team: Reed, Matt, Gina, Cody, Robbie, and Elena.

Congratulations to the students of the American Charter Academy for their great work. VPSI and Anchorage Share-A-Ride are very proud of the results and honored to be able to partner with ACA on this.