West Bend, WI – A West Bend West High School student is one of three winners of the Spring 2025 Innovation Competition. This statewide business-focused contest challenged 6th-12th grade students with creating and presenting a marketing plan for a new product.
Nathan Schultz from West Bend West H.S. was one of the winners.
Hello, my name is Nathan Schultz and I’m a student at West High School. Today I’m excited to present my innovative idea, which is a statewide sponsorship program where Kwik Trip partners with schools in Wisconsin to power student run stores.
Imagine this. You walk into your school store and see Quick Drip snacks, drinks, and supplies, all stocked by students who are running the store like a real business. They’re managing inventory, balancing budgets, and learning customer service, all with Kwik Trip support.
This isn’t just a store. It’s a business classroom, a leadership program, and a source of pride for the school. Kwik Trip would provide branding, startup materials, and even mentorship, helping schools bring the idea to life.
Here’s the challenge. Most schools don’t have the funding or resources to maintain a store. Students want hands-on experience in business, but the opportunities just aren’t there. At the same time, vending machines usually offer unhealthy food, and many schools
miss the chance to build strong relationships with businesses like Kwik Trip.
This program would solve all that by combining business, education, and community impact in one innovative package.
The Kwik Trip school store sponsorship program is designed to be simple and scalable. Click JIP would provide schools with startup kits, including shelves, signage, and initial inventory of popular snacks like cheese sticks, bananas, and granola bars. They’d also provide marketing support and optional branded items like shirts or banners.
Schools would run the store with student teams tying into business classes or even after school leadership clubs. Even better, Kwik Trip could create Kwik Trip days with limited time offers and contests to drive student engagement.
For schools, this program is full of benefits. Students learn retail, communication, and leadership skills they can’t get in a textbook.
The store can become a source of funding for school clubs, sports, or field trips. Also, students have access to healthier snacks that will help them stay fueled throughout the day. Plus, it boosts school pride, especially the custom branded merch featuring both the
school and Kwik Trip logos. for Kwik Trip.
This is a meaningful low-cost investment with long-term rewards. It builds lifelong brand
loyalty with students and families. Creates goodwill and communities and positive press across the state. And introduce students to careers at Kwik Trip, potentially creating future
employees with retail experience and customer service skills. It’s also tax-deductible sponsorship perfectly with Kwik Trip’s mission to serve communities better than anyone else.
To start, I’d propose a three-month pilot in five diverse schools across Wisconsin. Kwik Trip would invest two to 3,000 per school in startup kits, snacks, and branding. Students would
track store data, sales, popular items, and customer feedback, and Kwik Trip representatives could provide monthly support and check-ins.
At the end of the pilot, the program would be reviewed, improved, and scaled to more schools. Long-term, the vision is bold. In three years, the program could expand to 50 or
more schools across Wisconsin. Kwik Trip could host an annual school store showcase with student teams compete for awards and scholarships. A mobile Kwik Trip trailer could visit schools, add excitement and exposure, and standout students could earn internships or scholarships, strengthening their path towards future careers.
This program works because it checks every box. It’s relevant. It’s scalable. It’s low risk. And it’s incredibly aligned with Kwik Trip’s identity and is as a local leader in community service.
Students already love Kwik Trip and they’ll love it even more when they’re learning, leading, and growing with it inside their own schools. So today, I’m asking Kwik Trip to
support this program and help bring it to life. Let’s invest in Wisconsin students by giving them the tools, experience, and support they need through something as simple and as
powerful as a school store. Together, we can create real opportunities, real impact, real community connections, one school at a time. Thank you for your time.
The other winners of the Spring 2025 Innovation Competition:
Molly A. and Ava R. – Holmen High School
Nemanja P. – J.I. Case High School
“This contest very tangibly demonstrates the practicality and fun of innovation,” said Senior Director of Wisconsin Business World Michelle Grajkowski. “Thank you to each of the participants, and congratulations to the winners.”
The contest was open to Wisconsin students in grades 6-12. All projects were submitted between January 2025 – June 2025. The winners each received a $500 cash prize.
