Interviewing for a job usually means competing for a position at a company. In this case, it meant possibly going home with an important award that might help a student get their first job. Eight high schools from across Long Island recently competed at Walt Whitman High School in the 2024 Resume and Interview Competition.
Whitman Virtual Enterprise teacher Mrs. Sandy Stueber developed this competition last year. Using connections she has developed within the private sector she brought in more than 35 judges to provide real world feedback to student participants. “I wanted to bring this to my students because it's all about how you are going to separate yourself apart from everybody else who is interviewing,” explained Mrs Stueber. “So I love that they're going to get feedback from actual people who do the hiring at these companies.”
The high schools that competed on March 15th were Baldwin, Bethpage, Comsewogue, G.W. Hewlett, Northport, Southold Junior/Senior High School, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, and host school Walt Whitman. 110 juniors and seniors from Virtual Enterprise (VE) classes in those schools competed for first, second and third place in three areas: Cover Letter and Resume, Interview, and then Top Combined. The 40 best students from that first round moved on to the Interview, and only the top nine from the Interview round headed for the final round
Congratulations to the top three finishers in Resumes: Bryan Henry; Southold Jr. Sr. High School; Alex Reifer, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School; and Skyler Valderama, Southold Jr. Sr. High School
The top three finishers in Interviews: Dylan Reilly, Southold Jr. Sr. High School; Aiko Fujito, Southold Jr. Sr. High School; and Sophia Deja, Comsewogue High School
And the top three finishers Combined: Ava Morgan, G.W. Hewlett High School; Evelyn McGorry, Walt Whitman High School; and Alex Reifer, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School
If students weren’t competing in the event, then they were learning how to host an event. A big thanks goes out to the Whitman students who helped the day run smoothly. The organization team of Lauren Kispert, JD Harrison, John Lineen, Andrew Connolly, Xavier Ali, Matthew Gervasio, and Megan Rankel started planning in January working with security, facilities, the judges, and then running the event to make sure all concerns were addressed. Students Jaren Smullian and Joe D’Agostino seamlessly stepped into roles where they were needed during the competition and kept things moving along. Mrs. Steuber said all of our VE students represented themselves, the program, and Walt Whitman to a high level of professionalism.
We thank all the volunteer judges from companies Broadridge Financial Solutions; National Grid; Junior Achievement of New York; The Tag System; Stony Brook University; Carter, DeLuca & Farrell; Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce; M&T Bank; United Claims Service, Inc.; BBM Development Inc.; Converge Technology Solutions; BoomZeal Enterprises, Inc.; Brunswick Group; and Guardian Life Insurance.
Virtual Enterprise courses offered at high schools involve a simulated business that the students create, set up and run all school year with the help of their teacher. Each business competes in regional, national and international business plan competitions and trade shows throughout the school year. For more information, visit https://veinternational.org.
Judges from Broadridge Financial Solutions and Junior Achievement of NY interview student.
It’s not an office but the PAC was set up for multiple interviews.
Students anxiously wait in the Forum for the judges’ results.