(Mineola, NY) Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos hosted the 2nd Annual “Comptroller’s Entrepreneurial Challenge” where 200 business students from High Schools across the County competed for over $33,000 in scholarship and cash prizes from various sponsors. New Hyde Park Memorial High School won the top prize of $10,000 scholarships to Hofstra University and Adelphi University plus $5,000 in cash from Healthplex. The five person team displayed their “Nassau Solar Authority” idea which would provide solar panels to the businesses around the New Nassau Coliseum.
Teams had 10 minutes to convince a panel of expert judges that their business plan would be feasible and successful at the Plaza of the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The event took place at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building.
“My office has created a competition where the leaders of tomorrow will be challenged today to come up with business ideas that they feel will thrive in Nassau County,” Comptroller Maragos said. “The development around the Coliseum will be one of the largest projects in the County and the Challenge provided students with an exciting opportunity to come up with innovative and youthful business ideas.”
This year students had the opportunity to win $10,000 scholarships to Hofstra University or Adelphi University, Cash Prizes of $5,000 from each Healthplex, and Deloitte, $2,500 from Emblem Health, and $750 from Jzanus Home Care. In all, over $33,000 in prizes.
The winners were:
- 1st Place New Hyde Park Memorial High School: $10,000 scholarships to Hofstra University and Adelphi University plus $5,000 cash from Healthplex.
- 2nd place was $5000 cash from Deloitte and the winner was Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School (team name: TRAMPOLINE MACHINE).
- 3rd place was $2,500 from Emblem Health and the winner was Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School (team name: Pawsitively Paradise).
- 4th place $750 from Jzanus Home Care and the winner was Valley Stream Central High School (team name: Nassau Aqueduct).
All participants and their teachers were treated to pizza from Plum Tomatoes of Mineola, Desserts from Sweet Karma. Winners will also receive trophies thanks to Mineola Trophy.
Also the actual developers of the Coliseum and the surrounding area, Forest City Ratner, will be making a special presentation at the competition during the award ceremony at 1 pm. This group currently operates the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.
Participating Schools:
- North Shore High School
- Roslyn High School
- Freeport High School
- Valley Stream Central High School
- Baldwin High School
- Massapequa High School
- General Douglas MacArthur High School
- New Hyde Park Memorial High School
- Oyster Bay High School
- Garden City High School
- John F. Kennedy High School – Bellmore
- Hicksville High School
- Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School
- Cedarmore Corporation
Judges:
- George Maragos
- Anthony F. Libertella Adelphi Univeristy – Dean, Robert B. Willumstad School of Business
- Brian Caligiure Hofstra University – Assistant Dean for Administration, Frank G. Zarb School of Business
- Michael B. Malloy Deloitte & Touche – Auditor
- Bryan Berman Plum Tomatoes of Mineola – Owner
- Valerie Vignola Healthplex – Chief Financial Officer
- Andrew Hazen LaunchPad
- Peter Goldsmith LISTnet
- Jerry Gallo Emblem Health – Vice-President of Sales
