Culpeper, VA – In an exciting turn of events, students in Ms. Lydia Armour's Principles of Business and Marketing class at Culpeper County High School (CCHS) recently experienced a unique lesson in business communication and relationships. Freshman Hunter Hale took the assignment of writing a business letter to heart, selecting Mitchell and Ness, a historic sports-related clothing company based in Philadelphia, as his recipient.
Mitchell and Ness, known for its rich legacy and recent headlines involving investments from pop-culture icons like Jay-Z, Maverick Carter, and Fanatics, received Hunter’s letter and, to the class's astonishment, responded with genuine interest. A representative from the company reached out to confirm the authenticity of the letter and to inquire about how businesses typically engage with students. When learning that some companies send samples, the representative enthusiastically responded, "We can do better than that."
On October 10, 2024, Ms. Armour unveiled a surprise package from Mitchell and Ness that included hoodies for Hunter, herself, and classmates. Ms. Armour expressed her gratitude, stating, " Hunter chose Mitchell and Ness and caught their attention which resulted in a response that truly embodies the power of their outreach. I am incredibly proud of the entire class for the effort they put into this assignment. Many students received thoughtful responses from the companies they chose and it's been rewarding and inspiring for them. We all learned the impact of real world applications in a classroom is important to building connections. A special thanks to Mitchell & Ness for their generosity and support!"
Hunter, reflecting on his assignment, remarked, "I wrote a lot of extra words. Being professional and putting in the extra work matters." The students proudly wore their new hoodies throughout the school, garnering admiration from teachers who celebrated their efforts and the positive outcome. CCHS Principal, Dr. Daniel Soderholm, emphasized the importance of such partnerships, saying, "Having business partners like Mitchell and Ness matters. When companies, big or small, take time to respond to our students, it reiterates what we teach: relationships matter. Mitchell and Ness have made customers for life."
CCHS is proud of its students and looks forward to more enriching experiences that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.