Newtown High School Wins Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut’s 3rd Annual High School Business Challenge

Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut held its 3rd Annual High School Business Challenge on March 15, 2013 at the Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University. 

Sixteen area high school teams  (four students per team) spent the day at Fairfield University rubbing elbows with elected officials, interacting with area professionals and business leaders, along with competing for scholarships using Junior Achievement’s Titan interactive business simulation program. The “company” teams are challenged to outperform the competition in profit, sales and market share.  Through this experience they learn problem- solving, critical thinking, and business strategy skills. 

Facing some tough competition, Newtown High School finished in first place, with each student winning a $1,000 scholarship.

“The JA High School Business Challenge contributed to my understanding of how the game theory applies to the real world,” said Jay, Newtown High School.

Seymour High School pulled through in 2nd place with each student winning a $500 scholarship. “It made me realize that I want to be in business and motivated me to continue with my study,” said Izabella, Seymour High School. 

This event is more than a business competition, it is also an opportunity to be on a college campus and interact with some high level experienced professionals.  Based on the student’s feedback from 2012, this year’s event featured a panel of professionals for

Q & A, including Cosmo Alberico, EVP & CFO, Odyssey Logistics and Technology, Adam Dworkin, Executive Director, Griffin Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., Kathy Luria, VP Community Affairs, Webster Bank and Heather Petraglia, Associate Dean, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Fairfield University. This proved to be a valuable experience for all students involved, gaining insights on success and following their own personal path as they are about to embark on college or a career. 

The feedback from the educators and students has been tremendous.” quoted Bernadine Venditto, President of Junior Achievement of Western CT.  “The best dressed team contest was taken very seriously and was a difficult decision.  Students looked very professional, some teams donning bow ties and jackets.”

Many special guests were in attendance including superintendents, elected officials and business professionals. State Senator John McKinney and State Rep Tony Hwang kicked off the morning welcoming and congratulating the students for participating.

“I was so impressed by the professionalism and prepared approach of each high school team. The opportunity for them to work together in a collaborative manner and understand the dynamics of workplace success is invaluable,” said Tony Hwang.

Joshua Thompson, Director of Education and Youth for the City of Bridgeport was the featured speaker of the day delivering a message of perseverance and sharing life lessons learned and stories on the influential people in his life that helped shape where he is today.

Major sponsors were, Title Sponsor, Odyssey Logistics & Technology, GE Capital, Integrated Print Solutions, Pitney Bowes, Santa Energy and Webster Bank.  

About Junior Achievement of Western CT

Junior Achievement (JA) is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.  Since 1946, Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut has empowered nearly 300,000 students from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds with the knowledge and skills they need to develop habits for long term success. For more information about JAWCT, please visit http://www.jawct.org/