University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Eric Thompson leads a lecture on the economic principles of demand during a Macro Economics class at Standing Bear High School. He is standing in front of a table that has his laptop computer on it. He is standing next to a banner that says "Nebraska Business at Standing Bear High School" with the logos of Lincoln Public Schools and UNL.

Nebraska Business students collect economics knowledge from UNL professor

Lincoln Public Schools

September 9, 2026

Lincoln Public Schools students are gaining real-world business insights this semester from an expert in the field of economics.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business professor Eric Thompson is co-teaching a Macro Economics class to members of the Nebraska Business Focus Program. He is working alongside Kila Jordon, who leads business and information technology courses at Standing Bear High School. They have paired up to provide an in-depth educational experience to a full class of more than 30 interested Grizzlies.

Standing Bear juniors Lily and Jacob said they have enjoyed their time studying with both Thompson and Jordon. Thompson, who has been a college professor for 39 years, visits Standing Bear’s campus twice each week to offer his insights as a faculty member of the Big Ten Conference university. Jordon helps the class learn more about subject material such as supply, demand and price fluctuations during the remaining three days.

“It’s a really good opportunity to get to see a professor come into our school,” Lily said. “We’re getting different perspectives on UNL and what a class like this would be like there. I would say that it’s a great opportunity as a junior in high school to get to take a class like this.”

“I get to learn about things that I’m going to do in the future,” Jacob said. “It’s good, because I’m going to know how to set myself up for future success.”

Lily and classmate Ava both said the course has provided them with valuable information they will use in their careers. Both plan to become medical professionals and would eventually like to run their own practices.

“I want to have my own dentistry business, so I really want to understand how that can affect me economically,” Ava said.

“I’d like to work in the medical field for sure, so learning a baseline of this is a good thing to take into college with me,” Lily said. “Owning my own business would be something I could see myself doing.”

Thompson said he has been impressed with the level of sophistication he has seen from Nebraska Business students. He teaches economics classes at UNL and directs the UNL Bureau of Business Research. He has also conducted multiple economic impact studies for organizations such as the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.

“It’s an advanced class, so it’s fun to work with kids who are picking up the material quickly,” Thompson said. “I really like that I’m showing the students what a college class is like. There’s the need for participating in class and also studying a lot outside of class. I hope it helps prepare them for college.”

Jordon said she has enjoyed the co-teaching experience with Thompson. She felt the alliance between LPS and UNL is providing their students with a well-rounded business education.

“Eric brings college-level knowledge and perspective into our classroom, and then I am able to help support the students with their day-to-day work and assignments,” Jordan said. “I really like that it feels like a partnership rather than just a college professor coming in to teach a class. We are all working toward the same goal of helping our students be successful.”

The UNL College of Business and LPS launched the focus program partnership at Standing Bear in the Fall 2023 semester. Their goal was to help students gain valuable business skills such as accounting, economics, finance, management, entrepreneurship and supply chain management. UNL faculty members come to campus to provide their expertise in multiple business fields each semester.

Jordon said she believes the venture benefits Nebraska Business students in many ways. They complete college-level assignments, earn college credit and discover which business subjects they are interested in pursuing more. The Grizzlies also make essential connections with professors who they may have classes with again if they enroll at UNL.

“I think this gives students a better understanding of what to expect when they go to college, and it helps them build confidence in their ability to be successful in a college-level class,” Jordon said.

Ava agreed.

“I think it’s good preparation for what you’re going to do out in the real world,” Ava said. “It’s a great education.”

Thompson spent one morning teaching the Grizzlies about the fundamentals of economic demand. They learned about the intersection of price and quantity, the impact of purchasing power and how sales of related goods often mirror each other. For example, if people buy more hamburger meat at a grocery store, they also typically purchase more hamburger buns as well, since those two products are complementary.

Thompson said he has enjoyed providing upper-level classes to focus program students. One of his aims is to plant educational seeds for Grizzlies like Lily, Ava and Jacob who enjoy working with economics.

“I think a portion of students are ready to start college material before they formally start college,” Thompson said. “We’re glad to offer that opportunity to those who are ready and interested in doing so.”

Ava said her positive experiences in Macro Economics have boosted her interest in Nebraska Business subjects. She said her own demand for focus program classes would continue to rise in her final three semesters at Standing Bear.

“This is my first one in the focus program,” Ava said. “I’ll definitely take more next year, because I really like it.”

Choose Your Journey with LPS Focus Programs like our Nebraska Business Focus Program. Explore more about the Nebraska Business Focus Program.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

A Nebraska Business Focus Program student listens to a lecture from University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Eric Thompson at her desk. She is holding a pencil in her right hand and is preparing to take notes.A Nebraska Business Focus Program student concentrates as he takes notes in his Macro Economics class at Standing Bear High School. He is facing left to right and is writing notes with a pencil in his right hand.University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Eric Thompson leads a Macro Economics class at Standing Bear High School. The photo shows 11 students sitting in rows of desks in the classroom. The front screen has a slide that says "Our Model of a Market" on it. There is a Nebraska pennant hanging above the screen.