Huntington High School’s Virtual Enterprise business course company executives returned from a three day, two night trek into Brooklyn and Manhattan for this year’s Youth Business Summit invigorated and with renewed focus, motivation, ideas and commitment. The teenagers also brought back several awards they captured in competition against many of the top high school minds in the country.
Billed as “a dynamic week of business competitions, leadership activities, a global innovation challenge and an international trade show,” the Youth Business Summit brought thousands of top business students from across the United States and around the world together with teachers, professors and business partners and executives for a “one of a kind” business convention.
The Artemis corporate executive team enjoys a lighter moment at the business summit.
Accompanied by Huntington High School business teacher Paige Tyree Furman, student executives from the Paladin and Artemis Virtual Enterprise companies participated in the summit, which played out for three days last week.
Huntington High School Principal Brenden Cusack joined the students on Wednesday for sessions at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus.
Representing Paladin was Chief Executive Officer Caroline O’Rourke, Chief Operating Officer Ryan Porzio, Chief Financial Officer Adrianna LoScalzo, Chief Marketing Officer Leah Sheran, Chief Business Officer Keira Francis, Chief Human Resources Officer Neha Rathore and Chief Technical Officer Jazlyn Chapas.
Representing Artemis was Chief Executive Officer Sophie Bradford, Chief Operating Officer Angie Hernandez-Ramos, Chief Business Officer Vincent Grassi and Chief Technical Officer McKenna Buffa.
“I’m still kind of processing the whole experience,” Mrs. Tyree Furman said. “These 11 students, with assistance from their classmates, worked so hard to prepare these past few months. They created, revised and rehearsed their presentations more times than I can count. We were just so excited to qualify for the business and marketing competitions and then when we found out we actually placed, we were over the moon. While I was so proud that all their efforts paid off and so happy to see them realize their accomplishments, my favorite part was just watching the students conduct themselves in such a professional manner the entire time.”
The Huntington business students “talked the talk and walked the walk” and dressed like real world corporate executives. They impressed everyone, even among some of the best and brightest high school students in the country .
“They networked with students from around the world and executives from major corporations,” Mrs. Tyree Furman said. “They pitched their businesses and participated in Q & A sessions and remained steady and focused the whole time. They created and assembled trade booths entirely on their own. These students will have such a leg up when they enter the workforce and their future employers will be so lucky to have them!”
Huntington’s two company teams captured several impressive awards. Artemis garnered Top Four in the nation in the marketing plan competition and also won Gold Awards (tied for first with a few other schools) in both the sales pitch and booth design contests.
Paladin finished in the Top 10 on Long Island and Top 40 in the nation in the business plan competition.
Organizers said that “each event was designed as an opportunity for Virtual Enterprise students to showcase the professional skills and business acumen they have developed by launching and running a VE company.”
“The Youth Business Summit was so much more than I imagined it would be,” Ms. Bradford said. “I was able to compete with my team and place in the top four in the nation for marketing and achieve a gold placement for the Sales Pitch competition at our trade show. While at the trade show, I was able to network and speak to executives about future internships and possible employment. I am so grateful that I had this opportunity to lead my team while enjoying our time exploring the city.”
When the Huntington students weren’t on site at the summit and contests, they were collaborating on planning and spending time exploring New York City.
“This was an amazing opportunity for us to show our strength as a company,” Ms. O’Rourke said. “I am beyond proud of how far we’ve come. We have proven ourselves as we are Top 10 on Long Island and Top 40 in the country out of hundreds of firms.”
The Huntington teenagers found the experience invigorating. Being around so many other high-powered business students was unique and could not have been duplicated in a regular high school classroom.
“The Virtual Enterprise field trip to the city was both very exciting and a great experience,” Ms. Rathore said. “Developing the ability to speak publicly in front of judges is an important skill to learn and demonstrate and meeting other students from schools both internationally and all over the country was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to talk to kids all the way from Indonesia and even Europe and learn about their school life in comparison to mine. Overall, the competition allowed us all to make connections, meet new people and develop important life skills. This program is very beneficial and I recommend all juniors or seniors to give it a shot.”
This year’s Virtual Enterprise classes can’t say enough good things about the program. They encourage Huntington High School’s current freshmen and sophomores to seriously consider enrolling in the business course when they reach their junior and senior year.
“This field trip was an amazing experience because we were all able to interact with other firms and make new connections,” Ms. Sheran said. “Being able to experience an in-person trade show and competition was incredible since we haven’t been able to yet this year. I definitely recommend taking Virtual Enterprise for anyone that is thinking about it. It is so fun and helps you develop skills that you will need for the rest of your life.”
