High school students from across Long Island had the opportunity to put their burgeoning business minds on display at this year’s Ready. Set. Lead. Business Competition, once again held on St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Long Island campus. Founded nearly 20 years ago as the Emerging Leader High School Competition by the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph’s is now the main contact for this event moving forward.
This year saw more than 290 students and 26 teachers from 13 high schools in attendance, competing in areas that ranged from entrepreneurship, nonprofit fundraising and finance to design and branding, sports and entertainment marketing and healthcare. From the outset, participants were tasked with solving a series of business-related scenarios that demonstrated their skills and knowledge garnered both in and outside of the classroom.
Participating schools included:
- Jericho High School
- Northport High School
- Commack High School
- Herricks High School
- Lindenhurst High School
- Syosset High School
- Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center
- Half Hollow Hills East
- Center Moriches High School
- Garden City High School
- Harborfields High School
- Carle Place High School
- Kellenberg Memorial High School
Over 290 High school students across Long Island participated in this year’s competition – each delivering their own unique takes on business.
Breakfast and lunch were made available to students in the John A. Danzi gymnasium. Inside the gym, students practiced their presentations and networked with peers from other schools.
Evaluating each team were University staff members among others who conducted interviews and challenged students as they gave their presentations. Judges gave assessments based on their own experience working in their respective fields, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the competition. In the end, choosing a single first, second and third place winner across 10 categories was no easy feat, resulting in multiple ties.
Judges for this year’s competition were comprised of both University staff/faculty and members of the local business community.
This year’s categories were:
- Retail Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Sports and Entertainment and Marketing
- Nonprofit Fundraising
- Graphic Design and Branding
- Human Resources
- Finance
- Health Care
- Technology
- Job Interview – Grades 9 & 10
- Job Interview – Grades 11 & 12
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
Branding and Graphic Design A
- 1st Place: Jericho HS and Harborfields HS (tie)
- 2nd Place: Northport HS
- 3rd Place: Syosset HS
Branding and Graphic Design B
- 1st Place: Harborfields HS
- 2nd Place: Jericho HS
- 3rd Place: Syosset HS
Entrepreneurship A
- 1st place: Jericho and Syosset (tie)
- 2nd place: Half Hollow Hills East
- 3rd place: Lindenhurst HS
Entrepreneurship B
- 1st place: Syosset HS
- 2nd place: Commack and Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center (tie)
- 3rd place: Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center
Finance A
- 1st place: Garden City HS
- 2nd place Syosset HS and Jericho HS (tie)
Finance B
- 1st place: Jericho HS
- 2nd place: Lindenhurst HS
- 3rd place: Garden City HS
Healthcare A
- 1st place: Syosset HS
- 2nd place: Herricks HS
- 3rd place: Center Moriches
HealthCare B
- 1st place: Jericho HS
- 2nd place: Syosset HS
- 3rd place: Kellenberg
Hospitality Services
- 1st place: Half Hollow Hills East
- 2nd place: Jericho
- 3rd place: Herricks HS
Human Resources
- 1st place: Herricks HS
- 2nd place: Herricks HS
- 3rd place: Jericho HS
Non-Profit Fundraising
- 1st place: Syosset HS
- 2nd place: Half Hollow Hills East
- 3rd place: Jericho HS
Retail Marketing A
- 1st place: Northport HS and Jericho HS (tie)
- 2nd place: Half Hollow Hills East
- 3rd place: Syosset HS
Retail Marketing B
- 1st place: Herricks HS
- 2nd place: Lindenhurst HS
- 3rd place: Jericho HS
Sports and Entertainment Marketing A
- 1st place: Lindenhurst HS
- 2nd place: Syosset HS
- 3rd place: Herricks HS
Sports and Entertainment Marketing B
- 1st place: Jericho HS
- 2nd place: Herricks HS
- 3rd place: Half Hollow Hills East
Technology
- 1st place: Jericho HS
- 2nd place: Syosset HS
Interview 9-10
- 1st place: Jericho HS
- 2nd place: Herricks and Jericho HS (tie)
- 3rd place: Herricks HS
Interview 11-12
- 1st place: Herricks HS, Garden City HS and Harborfields- (3-way tie)
- 2nd place: Syosset HS
- 3rd place: Jericho HS
