JFK Hosts First Plainview Challenge

DECA Club and its Business Honor Society played host last week to a game of entrepreneurial skill where teams from around Long Island pitched their best ideas for a restaurant establishment.

The inaugural "Plainview Challenge" pitted two- and three-member teams against each other -- 135 in all -- in a competition designed to make students ponder all the aspects of starting up a business. Their detailed presentations were judged by a cross-section of 14 community business leaders recruited for the event.

"This competition was a fantastic way for students to utilize their business knowledge and presentation skills," said Business Teacher Jennifer Santorello, the advisor to DECA and the Business Honor Society. "It is so important for them to understand the value of being able to present to people, as many of them aspire to be business professionals.

"It also helps them to build confidence and poise at a very young age," Santorello said. DECA is an international academic club which works to establish business leaders.

The following Long Island schools participated:

• Half Hollow Hills East
• Half Hollow Hills West
• Northport
• Commack
• Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy.
• Calhoun
• Long Island Lutheran
• Lawrence

The Half Hollow Hills East team of Aneesh Shah, Natalie Haebich, and Ron Qioa took first place with their presentation of a health-food restaurant with a special appeal to the overweight crowd.

Danny Goldbaum, Scott Leo and Matt Farber took second place. 

Third place went to Plainview JFK's Dan Borko, Jake Egert and Jordan Ross.

After the competition, Barry Goldstein, owner and President of CT Networks, a voice and data integration company in Hauppauge, was the featured speaker.

Plainview students who planned and implemented the competition were Plainview's Zachary Feldman, Bryan Fried, Brian Coniglio, Samantha Weintraub, Will Gladstone, Ashley Glass and Ashley Prince.

"The day went extremely well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves," Santorello said. "We will definitely continue this next year."