School Students Make An Olympic Splash

Media release
11 July 2012

School Students Make An Olympic Splash

The business dreams of Auckland secondary school students is making a splash with the national men’s swim team ahead of this month’s London Olympics.

A group of enterprising students from KingsWay School in Orewa this week presented the New Zealand team with customised jacket styled hoodies produced as part of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES).

The nationwide YES programme is run across the region by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and sees year 12 and 13 students form real companies and produce innovative products for sale to the public.

The KingsWay students, whose company name is Kosmo, worked closely with the New Zealand men’s swim team to develop the finished product, which was customised to the team’s requirements.

Kosmo’s Managing Director Matt Hanson says: “The swim team took our initial polar fleece hoodie prototype and suggested we add a splash proof shell, front zip, pockets and included a bag for easy transportation. We also added silver fern branding, the squad’s name, and personalised the jackets with each team member’s name.”

“The experience of working with the New Zealand team really made the whole project,” says Matt. “We’ve now got bragging rights that we helped kit out the men’s swim team!”

Swimmer Steven Kent was amazed by the finished hoodies and says that they are “everything [Kosmo] said they’d be.” He described them as warm and perfect for swim competitions.

ATEED’s YES Regional Coordinator Hilary Robotham believes the KingsWay School team is setting a high standard for the programme.

“What these students have achieved in a matter of months is a testament to their commitment and dedication, says Ms Robotham. “They’ve used entrepreneurial business nous that is well beyond their years to produce a professional product for real clients. The hoodies look fantastic.”

Kosmo contracted local fashion designer Michelle Erasmus to produce the hoodies which were completed just last weekend, in time for the men’s swim team’s departure from New Zealand.

While Olympic sponsorship regulations won’t allow the team to wear the hoodies while competing in London, some members of the team will use them at their Olympic pre-camp in Belgium.

ENDS

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