SCHOOLS

Business students excel at entrepreneurial challenge

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Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos recently honored East Meadow High School’s student business team, Energym, for their first-place victory at his fourth annual entrepreneurial challenge earlier this spring.

East Meadow’s team, comprised of nine business students, competed against 20 teams from 13 Nassau County high schools at the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative and Executive Building in Mineola on April 6. East Meadow School District officials explained that the competition, which is specifically designed for high schoolers, had a unique theme: “Start-up Nassau.”

According to the district, each team presented a business plan and prototype designed to benefit local universities and the county at-large in some way to a panel of judges, comprised of entrepreneurs, community leaders and Maragos. East Meadow students wowed the panelists with their plan, which called for the manufacturing and marketing of a device that stores bicycles’ kinetic energy in order to power electrical devices.

As competition winners, Energym received $2,500, provided by HAB Bank. Toni McIntosh, the team’s adviser and the chairperson of the EMHS business and technology education department, congratulated the students on their impressive accomplishment.

“A job well done to these students for placing first in this prestigious competition, as this was only our second time entering since it began in 2012,” she said. “I am beyond impressed with how well they did.”

Several seniors made up the squad, including: Ramshaa Salian, Cameron Ketyer, Shravan Khanna, Shannon Finneran, Michelle Romeo, Rachel Polansky, Victoria Bova and Rehmat Sakrani.

Maragos presented the group with several citations in June. He wished all of the participants well in their future entrepreneurial endeavors.

“I am tremendously proud of the outstanding young people who presented their business ideas,” he said. “I encourage these students to refine their ideas and pursue their dreams. This is the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that will help Nassau County’s economy thrive.”

Walmart of East Meadow — along with the Long Island Conservatory, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Plum Tomatoes of Mineola, A&S Bagels of Franklin Square, Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen of Carle Place, Bagel Boss of Lake Success, Mineola Trophy and Awards and Stop & Shop of Carle Place — also sponsored the contest.