High School Students Shine in Business Competition

Rafael Reyes was confident he would do well on the job interview. His resume was in order as he sat down in front of the one of the many tables set up in Roosevelt Hall at Farmingdale State College.

This wasn't just any interview or job fair. Rafael, a student at Whitman High School, was one of the many high schools students competing in the eighth annual Business Leadership Competition hosted by the Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce (YPCC), a program of the .

The event was meant to test their knowledge through presentations in such categories as fashion marketing, hospitality services, advertising, graphic design, sales demonstration, sports management, sports marketing, entrepreneurship, travel and tourism and job interview skills. 

Linda Mitchell, executive director of the YPCC and director of member services for the Huntington chamber, said a record 211 high school students from Long Island participated in the event this year. Students were given five minutes to make a presentation to the judges, who then had three minutes to ask them questions.

The students were judged on their professionalism, grammar and completeness, format, greeting and eye contact, enthusiasm, motivation, courtesy and sincerity, along with  their answering techniques and post-interview skills.

At first glance the large hall looked like a scene from TV show "The Apprentice" as the teams approached the judges with their presentation displays.

"Thank you for this opportunity," said Matthew Campanella as he and Derek Zadrozny, also students at Whitman,  handed their business cards to hospitality services judges Bill Mitchell, a retired executive, and Monique Zorn of the Zorn's family restaurant and catering business. In matching blue dress shirts, ties and black pants, the students pitched their fast food restaurant idea (The Blender Boutique) starting with a marketing plan, product description (smoothies) and sales and promotion using Twitter and other social media. "It was a little scary, but we felt well-prepared," Campanella said afterwards.

Pamela Sokol, a special education teacher and former sales manager, was one of the many volunteer judges at the event. "We help train students to be ready for the real world in this competition," she said.

Many of the judges were impressed by the commitment and organization of the presentations. "It's a pleasure to see the great attitudes and enthusiasm," added Mike Babbar, account manager for Best Buy in Westbury, another volunteer judge in the job interview competition. "They ask excellent questions!" 

Schools participating were Commack, Northport, John Glenn, Huntington, Harborfields, Walt Whitman, Deer Park, Half Hollow Hills East, Half Hollow Hills West, Huntington, Western Suffolk BOCES, St. Dominic's, Oyster Bay and Farmingdale.

There were so many students that the presentations went into lunchtime. The event ended with an awards ceremony in the auditorium. "This competition does a phenomenal job motivating and rallying the students," commented Stacy Zager, career services director of Briarcliffe College, one of the sponsors. "It's a pleasure to see and support Long Island's future leaders."

Partial list of award winners (not all winners or their full names were immediately available):

Sales

First Prize -Sarah and Diana, Commack

Second Prize - John and Ryan, Half Hollow Hills West

Job Interview Grades 9-10

First Prize - Rafael Reyes, Walt Whitman

Second Prize - Jack Watkins, Commack

Honorable Mention - - Eric Gesuale, Half Hollow Hills East

Job Interview Life Skills

First Prize - Michael Brodsky, Commack

Second Prize - Alyssa Gills, Deer Park

Travel and Tourism

First Prize - Nick Scover and Kevin Osse, Walt Whitman

Second Prize - Isabel Staeeunedder and Sarah Watson, Northport

Honorable Mention - - Sasha Moore, Harborfields

Entrepreneurship

First Prize - Kirsten Fischl and Alyssa Stalzer, Commack

Second Prize - Anthony Bruno, Wilson Tech

Honorable Mention- Elyssa Slowinski and Andrea Fortunato, Northport

Hospitality Services

First Prize - Aneesh Shah and Cody Miechikonski, Half Hollow Hills East

Second Prize - Hunter Smith and Daniel Paulson, Commack

Honorable Mention - - John Probert and Chris McPartland, Walt Whitman

Advertising

First Prize - Lukasz Leon and Brian Cannarazzo, Wilson Tech

Second Prize - Amanda Garcia and Melissa Giuda, St. Dominick's

Honorable Mention - - Joe Melono and Justin Tampellini, Commack

Graphic Design

First Prize - Edwin Lavarenga and Anthony Lupo, Wilson Tech

Second Prize - Jasene Licenziato and Klye Henderson, Oyster Bay

Honorable Mention - - Imari Echevarraa

Fashion Marketing

First Prize - Shannon Boutros and Briana Cali, St. Dominick's

Second Prize - Melissa Cacorte and Anna Sckellaridis, Oyster Bay

Sports Management

First Prize - Dan and Vinny (no school or last name available)

Second Prize - Molly Costello, Harborfields

Sports Marketing

First Prize - Anthony Squeglial and Jordan Siegler, Commack

Second Prize - Jeff Cherkin, Half Hollow Hills East

Honorable Mention - Nick Malizk and Joe Albert, Northport