It’s officially competition season, and we kicked off with two incredible days of the 2026 New York State & New England Regional Business Plan Competition and Trade Show, hosted at LIU Post.
This exciting event brought together hundreds of high school students from across New York State and New England, each ready to showcase the hard work they’ve put into building and running their firms. From thoughtfully designed trade show booths to well-prepared business plan presentations, students demonstrated professionalism, creativity, and confidence as they engaged with peers, judges, and industry professionals.
With Gratitude to Our Supporters
On behalf of the hundreds of New York State and New England high school students, the VE staff extends our deepest gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who made this event possible.
In no particular order, special thanks to:
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Dr. Kimberly Cline, President of LIU, for graciously hosting this event and for her continued support of VE students, schools, and programs across Long Island and the nation.
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Sara Panarelli, Gail Luksch, Bree Arkay-Leliever, and the entire LIU team for their insight, patience, and exceptional behind-the-scenes coordination with VE.
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Dr. Christopher Bates, the LIU School of Business staff, and the Dean Scholars for their mentorship and continued support of our local VE schools and students.
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Jovia Financial Credit Union, for their generous sponsorship and for providing students with valuable opportunities to learn about personal finance and beyond.
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Our dedicated VE Teachers, who work tirelessly to ensure their students are prepared and have the best possible experience.
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Our judges and volunteers, for generously sharing their time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback with our students.
Events like these highlight the impact of the Virtual Enterprises program and the incredible potential of our students. We are proud of every participant and grateful to our partners for helping create meaningful, real-world learning experiences that prepare students for future success.
Competition season is just getting started, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!