Students from the South High School Virtual Enterprises (VE) program attended the New York State Regional Business Plan Competition and Trade Show at CW Post-LIU on Jan. 15–16. The team of Abigail Badalov, Charlie Gorenstein, Ajay Jain, and Jacob Rosenstrock received a silver award in the best booth competition for their product, “Arctic°,” which offers portable cooling refrigeration and technology.

More than 70 schools participated in this regional event to showcase their student-run businesses and demonstrate their skills promoting and selling their products and services. Winners of the best booth awards were selected by volunteers acting as guest shoppers who interacted with students on the trade show floor.

South High offers Virtual Enterprises as a full-year business course, led by business teacher Scott Feldman. Through hands-on, task-based curricula, students test drive potential careers and develop in-demand skills and competencies sought by post-secondary institutions and employers. By managing the day-to-day operations of a company, students not only develop business skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, they also identify career pathways that align with their interests, talents, and aspirations.