Long Island’s Brightest High School Students Compete in the Seventh Annual Business Leadership Competition

The Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce (“YPCC”), a program of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, hosted their Seventh Annual Business Leadership Competition at Farmingdale State College on Wednesday December 2nd. This year more than 190 high school students from Commack, Deer Park, Half Hollow Hills East, Half Hollow Hills West, Harborfields, John Glenn, Northport, Oyster Bay, St. Dominic’s, Walt Whitman, and Wilson Technological Center participated. A luncheon and awards ceremony followed the competition.

The competition provided students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge through presentations in the categories of Fashion Marketing, Hospitality Services, Advertising, Graphic Design, Travel and Tourism, Real Estate, Sports Management, Sports Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Job Interview Skills.

This event was made possible through the generosity of this year’s sponsors: Adelphi University, Assemblyman Andrew Raia, BAE Systems, Briarcliffe College, Farmingdale State College, Five Towns College, Hofstra University, Home Depot, Molloy College, Oyster Bay Rotary, The Bontempi Family and Verizon.

2009 YPCC Business Leadership Competition Winners

Fashion Marketing: First Place: Jose Valencia and Brianne Dillon, Walt WhitmanSecond Place: Jackie Judsen and Lindsay Miller, NorthportHonorable Mention: Mellisa Guida and Amanda Garcia, St. Dominic’s

Hospitality Services: First Place: Ray Rizzo and Diana DePaula, Walt WhitmanSecond Place: Scott Rabinowitz, Half Hollow Hills WestHonorable Mention: Eric Kessler and Jon Cohen, Half Hollow Hills East

Advertising: First Place: Anthony Campanella and Mark Egger, Walt WhitmanSecond Place: Pavit Lamba and Andrew Kaizer, Commack

Graphic Design: First Place: Carlee Martin and Belynda Ungurath, Wilson TechSecond Place: Justin Roethel and Rob Swetland, Wilson Tech

Sports Management: First Place: Rich Pino, Half Hollow Hills WestSecond Place: Molly Costello, Harborfields

Sports Marketing: First Place: Nick Malazia and Joe Albert, NorthportSecond Place: Kymberly Knoph, Harborfields Honorable Mention: Christopher Costello and David Murphy, Commack James DePace and John Marsicano, John Glenn

Travel and Tourism: First Place: Max Sanders, Half Hollow Hills WestSecond Place: Ayden Rosenberg and Keith Fischer, CommackHonorable Mention: Fuschia Ray, Walt Whitman

Entrepreneurship: First Place: Kelly Benini and Melissa Bloecker, NorthportSecond Place: Jordan Stone and Jon Balsano, Walt WhitmanHonorable Mention: Paul Savary, Oyster Bay

Real Estate: First Place: Sam Kim and Chirag Munim, Northport Second Place: Tom Quigley, Wilson Tech

Job Interview 9 th and 10 th Grade : First Place: Jason Breitstone, Half Hollow Hills EastSecond Place: Jake DeLorenzo, Walt WhitmanHonorable Mention: Marissa Ditkowsky

Job Interview: 11th and 12th Grade First Place: Jillian Baum, Harborfields Second Place: Francesca Mileo, CommackHonorable Mention: Claire Bouchard, Oyster Bay

Job Interview (LS)First Place: Laura Lundi, Deer ParkSecond Place: Caitlyn Maloney, Wilson TechHonorable Mention: Yasmin Williams, Wilson Tech

The distinguished panel of judges included: Jamie Austin, Austin Travel; Lou Cino, Molloy College; Tom Crosby, Hilton Garden Inn; Michael DeCristofaro, Edward Jones; Anthony DeVito, DeVito Fetterman Advertising; Aaron Foss, Alegean; Ashley Kolarcik, Rexer-Parkes; Maureen Leslie, Adelphi University; Christopher LoPinto, Expert Travel Services; Frank Marchetta, Prudential Douglas Elliman; Jim McGowan, Adelphi University; Bill Mitchell; Lisa O’Brien, T.F. O’Brien & Co.; Krysti O’Rourke, Five Towns College; Brian Rothschild, Adelphi University; Andrew Saluk, Citizens Bank; Vita Scaturro, Community National Bank; David Walsdorf, Walsdorf Insurance Agency; Judy Wasilchuk, Laffey Associates; Jim Werner, Halliday Financial Group; Judy White, CJ2 Communication Strategies; Stacy Zager, Briarcliffe College

ABOUT THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:As a division of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, the YPCC was established to engage high school students, college students and young entrepreneurs to enhance their leadership skills in a professional environment interacting with business executives, community leaders, educators and other young adults. The YPCC offers guest speakers, networking opportunities, skill and resume building, entrepreneur workshops, internships and more. We believe that the strength of our School-Business Partnership through the Chamber of Commerce enables us to provide educational initiatives to the dynamic students who are our future business leaders of tomorrow. For more information, contact Linda Mitchell at (631) 423-6100, Ext. 16, or visit www.huntingtonchamber.com.