They made it. Huntington High School’s Poseidon Virtual Enterprise company team has advanced to Wednesday’s final round of the National Business Plan Competition championships.
Poseidon is among eight Virtual Enterprise companies to have reached the final round of the national contest. Huntington will vie against Pennsylvania’s Germantown Friends School, two teams from California’s South Pasadena Senior High School and California’s Murrieta Valley High School, Westhampton Beach High School, GW Hewlett High School and New York City’s Academy of Finance and Enterprise.
“The kids are over the moon,” said Paige Tyree Furman, the Huntington business teacher who is working with the Poseidon company team. “It’s the farthest that any Huntington High School team has gone.”
Poseidon’s presentation team includes Alex Frawley, Richard Zboray, Ainsley Proctor, Robert Harrington, Victoria Mangan and Evan O’Connell.
“I am so proud of our team,” Ms. Mangan said. “We have put in so many hours throughout the year both in and out of school. It’s so amazing to see how much our hard work has paid off and how far we have advanced. I’ll forever be grateful to have been a part of such an amazing team.”
There is excitement around the high school building as Poseidon vies for the national championship.
“I am so exceedingly proud of this amazing group of students,” Principal Brenden Cusack said. “I have seen firsthand the enormous amount of hard work and dedication that is required to excel in this competition. For Poseidon to make it to the final eight teams is truly outstanding. I cannot wait to see how they do in the finals!”
Poseidon’s novel product is a luxury showerhead that reduces water consumption without impacting a user’s comfort. It saves money and is good for the environment while delivering a high quality performance.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for a fantastic group and an extraordinary program,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “We share in the pride experienced by members of the Poseidon organization, all of our Virtual Enterprise teams and business teachers Paige Furman and Suzi Biagi. Huntington’s program has become a national force in a short few years, providing truly unparalleled experiences in entrepreneurship for our young people. Congratulations to all and best to Poseidon as they move forward to the round of eight.”
The full-year, one credit business course is available to juniors and seniors. “Virtual Enterprise is a simulated business that is set-up and run by students to prepare them for working in a real business environment,” according to the high school’s course bulletin.
“I am so proud of each student’s work and professionalism, especially considering the challenges of this academic year,” Mrs. Furman said. “The fact that Poseidon participated and then advanced at the exceedingly competitive national level is highly impressive. This is an outstanding group of kids; full of talent, grit, and gumption - and they deserve to be celebrated.”
The national finals will play out from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Preliminary rounds in the competition were held on April 12 with the semi-finals being conducted on Monday, April 19. Final round participants probably didn’t get much sleep on Tuesday night.
“The National Business Plan Competition showcases some of the best and brightest student leaders and budding entrepreneurs in the country,” according to Virtual Enterprise International. Participating teams from around the country will have their written business plans and oral presentations judged by industry professionals. After receiving top honors in local and regional business plan competitions during the school year, these teams have earned the chance to compete in the country’s premiere team-based national business plan competition.”