LI high schools top regionals of entrepreneurial competition

Teams from Westhampton Beach High School, Patchogue-Medford High School and Hewlett High School took the top spots regionally last month in an entrepreneurial competition that challenged teens to create and operate fictional businesses.

The teams competed against more than 800 students from 42 local high schools in the 2016 Long Island Virtual Enterprises Business Plan Competition, which required them to do everything from sell mock products to cut virtual paychecks. Westhampton Beach teams earned the top two spots, Patchogue-Medford took third and Hewlett captured fourth in the competition.

The top four teams head to the 2016 National Business Plan Competition, which will be held at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus on April 17.

“I’m really proud they’ve come so far,” said Hewlett team facilitator Ron Remick, who said this is the team’s third consecutive year making nationals. “We have dedicated students and it was a whole class effort.”

The annual competition challenged teams to brainstorm and form their own companies, present business plans, and answer questions from a panel of judges comprising Long Island business, industry and educational professionals. The final results were based on the combined score of each team’s written plan and oral presentation, weighed equally.

Westhampton Beach’s first-place team, Helios, created a mock solar energy utility with 40 customers consisting of other teams in the competition that needed power for their businesses. Hewlett’s team, ROC Security, offered options for residential, online and commercial security.

The first round of the regionals was held at Farmingdale State College; the second round at American Portfolio Financial Services in Holbrook.

BELLMORE

Learning about Islam

Students at Wellington C. Mepham High School recently celebrated Muslim culture — and were educated about Islam — during a Middle Eastern and South Asian Night. The evening was spearheaded by sophomore Rina Sarfraz, who got the idea after a discussion with Principal Michael Harrington about how students could help increase awareness.

The festivities kicked off with Habeeb Ahmed, president-elect of the Islamic Center of Long Island, who explained the five pillars of Islam and the similarities between Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Other activities included the application of henna tattoos and a Bollywood dance performance.

COUNTYWIDE

MYO competition

Two Nassau County students took first place in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York’s 2015-16 Concerto and Vocal Competition at the Congregational Church of Huntington. Joanna Lau of Herricks High School won the concerto portion, while Ben Truncale of St. Agnes School in Rockville Centre won for vocals.

The pupils were among 10 finalists picked to deliver a free concert at the church based on recordings they submitted via an application process. They were evaluated by a jury of music directors and educators.

Lau, a flutist, and Truncale, a tenor, each won $500 prizes.

ISLANDWIDE

Autism essay contest

Local students are invited to participate in an essay contest asking them to answer the question: “Why do autistic and developmentally disabled people become targets of bullies, and how can my school and community prevent it?” The contest is open to students in grades 9-12 attending public or private schools in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties.

Entries must be 400-500 words and submitted via the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx or United Parcel Service by May 1. For further entry details, call 516-741-9000, ext. 15110. The contest’s first-, second- and third-place prizes are $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

The contest is sponsored by Garden City-based nonprofit Life’s WORC together with the Family Center for Autism in association with the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and Schneps Communications.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.