Bellmore-Merrick Business Challenge

Bellmore-Merrick Business Challenge Offers Interactive Competition

Photo courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

The Bellmore-Merrick Business Challenge on Dec. 15 invited students from all three high schools to participate in a competition. During this business competition, teams planned, presented and defended a position in one of the five business categories. The categories Sports Marketing, Retail Marketing, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, and Graphic Design & Branding. Many distinguished professionals served as judges from both the academic and private sectors.

Danielle Fortune served as keynote speaker on behalf of the Energeia partnership at Molloy College. She talked about advancing in her career and encouraged students to pay close attention when around someone they can learn from.

“It was watching [a former mentor] navigate the business world on a daily basis where I gained the most knowledgeable experience,” she noted to students.

The day’s events also included a college fair and a virtual enterprise mini trade fair in which three firms from Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools competed for best booth and best pitch.

Calhoun’s VE team, NaturalBOWLS, is on a journey to minimizing food waste while serving innovative and delicious bowls. Kennedy’s VE team, Patch Attach, is a company that encourages consumers to express themselves through their customizable shoes via patches. Mepham’s VE team, Environmental Apparel, serves as streetwear out of recycled polyester made from plastic waste found in oceans.

Winners: Sports Marketing: Team #2- Amir Ibrahim (Calhoun), Sam Kalish (Kennedy), Sarah Koenig (Mepham)

Entrepreneurship: Team # 3- Matthew Sferratore (Calhoun), Ben Margulies (Kennedy), Jenny Marmol (Mepham)

Team # 4- Jonathan Cohen-Stern (Calhoun), Jenna Duffey (Kennedy), Ethan Pariag (Mepham)

Graphic Design & Branding- Team # 3Giavannah Posner (Calhoun), Chase Krinsky (JFK), Haluk Yavas (Mepham)

Retail Marketing- Team #2- PJ Kakalos (Calhoun), Michael McKeon (Kennedy), Dean Amin (Mepham)

Virtual Enterprise winners: Best Pitch: NaturalBOWLS- (Calhoun) Best Booth: Patch Attach- (Kennedy)

The event was organized by Mark Melkonian, an assistant principal at Calhoun and the district business department chairperson. Teachers Kerri Frend, Linda Leonardo, Stu Litwin, Peter Palazzo, Laura Rojas, Andrew Slattery, Jenna Tumminelli and Morgan Wing also assisted.

CHAMP teacher Mike Digiovanni, the students of CHAMP and the Valenti family of Piccolo Ristorante of Bellmore provided food. Stu Stein and Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting students provided coverage of the event. Kelly Friedmann led students from the Calhoun orchestra ensemble in a performance.

Additionally, local elected officials Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Carini, Legislators Steve Rhoads and Tom McKevitt were on hand to assist with judging.