The Kentwood Trade Show set for June 1 is expected to be the largest ever, with 100 companies setting up booths in Kentwood High School gym.

The first Kentwood trade show was in 1998.

The event is the result of efforts by students in the marketing class at Kentwood High, which is taught by Mark Zender. The students created posters, advertisements and a promotional video.

The type of companies at the trade show will range from international like Nike to local businesses including Thorson Photography and 2seven2 Grill and Bar in Covington. Others include Redbox, Cold Stone Creamery, the Seahawks and Smith Brothers Farms.

This year, the students chose a Hollywood at night theme to help liven the atmosphere. Not only will there be red carpet, lights and banners, but each booth will have a box with a slit in it where people will be able to vote for their favorite. The winner will receive a small Oscar statue.

Sean Denby, a junior, and Brett Wilds, a senior, came up with the idea as part of the marketing 3/4 class.

“We literally came up with a list of ideas from rock n’ roll to retro seventies,” Wilds said. “It was the easiest to design. Hollywood is very flashy and well known.”

“Everyone likes movies, Hollywood and celebrities,” Denby said.

To help create the environment, students like junior Taban Adbulkader have made decorations, promotional fliers and designed logos for the trade show.

Denby explained that each student in the marketing class had to convince at least one company to have a booth at the trade show. With 110 students, the trade show was guaranteed to be big.

In 2009, 46 companies were represented at the trade show. In 2010, 68 companies were represented.

“For the businesses, it is free marketing and exposure at the high school,” Denby said. “They come and show why they should buy their product. It’s bringing businesses to Covington.”

“We market it better every year,” Wilds stated.

The high level of student involvement in the process, and relatively low amount of teacher supervision is the result of what Zender, who has taught at Kentwood High for three years, calls a hands-on approach to education.

Because he has the students do most of the work, setting up the events and interacting with people, he stated the students, “literally have work experience…instead of talking or reading about it. Everything is like the actual job. They tend to be more focused.”

Wilds, who already runs his own local business called Suburban Landscaping, said that class is “the most important class I’ve taken. It’s about making a name and getting connections.”

The trade show runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday June 1.