Student-run business bids farewell to graduating employees

“I am not only the manager of the sales, but I also just do my normal everyday job, which is just selling product,” said Jordan Stec.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- High school graduation season is here. On Thursday evening, Alden Central School will hold its commencement ceremony, but it’s not just the district saying goodbye to graduating seniors. A full-fledged business within Alden High School is also saying farewell to some valued employees.

If you want to create a spark for the future, you can’t go wrong with making things real. That’s the whole idea behind Bulldog Manufacturing. It’s not a class or a group project, it’s a real, functioning business.

Bulldog Manufacturing sells items like coasters, magnets, mugs, and pens. All of them can be custom made with names and messages.

“I am not only the manager of the sales, but I also just do my normal everyday job, which is just selling product,” Jordan Stec said.

“I’m our CEO, so I’m in charge of managing all the personnel,” Sylvia White said.

That includes manufacturing, accounting, marketing, and sales.

Bulldog is also a subcontractor for four local companies, manufacturing various parts.

"I think it’s just really important to also have the manufacturing part because a lot of trade jobs are really on the lookout right now,” White said.

The students get one to two scheduled hours during the school day to run the business.

“A lot of people also put in time outside of school hours, because sometimes you just got to get things done and we have deadlines we have to meet,” White said.

“All of our machining equipment is exactly what would be used in industry, as well as higher education,” teacher Arthur Eggink said.

Eggink and fellow teacher Allen Turton serve as advisors after starting the company five years ago -- and it was no small task.

“We had to figure out everything from logistics of running a business within a school foundation, because it’s still technically a nonprofit,” Eggink said. “There’s a lot of legal aspects that we have to continue to think about.”

It’s paying off for the students. Some have found their career path through the business. White plans to attend RIT to study chemical engineering.

Some have been inspired to change paths before college, like Stec, who will attend St. Bonaventure University to study chemistry.

“I always used to love business and numbers and money. But, you know, over the two years I realized there’s a lot of things I don’t like about it," Stec said. "I always thought that was my plan and over this time, I really figured out I like science.”

The money made by Bulldog Manufacturing goes back into the business and the members must vote on how it’s used. New this year, each graduating student-employee is receiving a scholarship from a percentage of the company’s profits.

Other school districts are taking notice. East Aurora and Lake Shore have now started similar programs based on the Bulldog model.