Watco Participates in Annual Just Imagine Kansas Event Each year, fourth-grade students across Kansas learn about their local community’s businesses and economy through the annual Just Imagine Kansas event. The event is a model town of Pittsburg where students can learn hands-on commerce. It is usually held on Kansas’ birthday, January 29, but Pittsburg’s Lakeside School held theirs on March 22 after three COVID and weather delays. The event is sponsored by businesses from the local community who donate time and products. The students are divided up and work for the businesses, selling their goods or providing services. There are four 30-minute shifts, and each student works two shifts. They receive a paycheck at the end of each shift, which they cash at the bank, also run by students, to spend their wages at the other businesses. The students work for local restaurants, grocery stores, custodial services, the postal service, police, manufacturing, and even elect a mayor. They learn about how to conduct transactions, provide services, and math skills from tallying totals and counting change. More importantly, they see how their local economy works and gain insight into the places their parents work and the places they visit. Watco’s business was operated by four students this year. Although, they didn’t operate a railroad, transload goods, or repair anything, they did learn about Watco’s business. The group sold small pieces of Watco swag like keychains, lanyards, and drawstring bags. Two of the new team members were children of Watco team members. Jayden is the son of Sean Cox, senior manager of support desk services. Abby is the daughter of Senior Revenue Account Specialist Ken Womble and Collections Administrator Lynae Womble. “Abby came home wearing her Watco hat and was so excited to work at the same place mom and dad do,” Ken Womble said. “I’m glad they were able to finally hold the event. She’s been so excited about it for months.” Watco has sponsored Just Imagine Kansas for many years, and dozens of students have represented us and helped the other students and community guests learn about Watco. “I’ve been fortunate to represent Watco at Just Imagine Kansas for the last four or five years. It’s important for Watco to invest in the future of our communities, and how better than teaching the next generation these skills and showing them how our local economy works,” said Jay Benedict, digital communication and social Watco's Jay Benedict with his new Just Imagine City team members.
media specialist. April 2022 | The Dispatch 15
