Contributed by Trish Vanni
That you are never too young to have a great idea was very evident as more than 350 student innovators from NYC schools came to George L. Egbert Intermediate School 2 in Staten Island, NY, to participate in the first-ever VE-JV NYC Trade Show.
On Friday, March 10, 18 student-led businesses set up their company booths and sold their simulated products and services to other VE-JV students and volunteer guest shoppers. Students also participated in two live competitions (Sales Pitch and Booth Design) during the two-hour exhibition.
The top three companies in each category earned recognition:
Sales Pitch Winners
Gold: MultiCharge (I.S. 281 Joseph B. Cavallaro, Brooklyn, NY)
Silver: Picture It (I.S. 51 Edwin Markham, Staten Island, NY)
Bronze: UnSkrambled (J.H.S. 259 William McKinley, Brooklyn, NY)
Booth Design Winners
Gold: Picture It (I.S. 51 Edwin Markham, Staten Island, NY)
Silver: Break the Ache (M.S. 053 Brian Piccolo, Queens, NY)
Bronze: Pristine (J.H.S. 226 Virgil I. Grissom, Queens, NY)
Industry partners provided volunteers who participated as guest shoppers and competition judges. They included New York Life, the United Federation of Teachers, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the New York City Department of Education among others. Their energizing presence was valued by all. Special judge and mentor, Joseph “Joe” Delaney, VEI board member and long-time VE champion, was also in attendance.
VEI leadership extends a special “thank you” to George L. Egbert Intermediate School 2 Principal Jill Passantino and faculty member Joseph Dunne-Jaffe for hosting the event at their school, and to the New York Life Foundation for their generous and ongoing support of the VE-JV program.
Read the Staten Island Advance coverage here.
Social Media Competition Winners
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