Teen Entrepreneurs Score 1st Place In Virtual Enterprise Competition

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Teen entrepreneurs in Westhampton Beach scored a major win at a virtual enterprise competition recently.

Westhampton Beach High School’s Virtual Enterprise team, Opal, outperformed teams from across the country, earning the number one spot at the VE National Business Plan Competition, held at the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, the Westhampton Beach Union Free School District said.

They, along with three of their virtual enterprise peers, were also awarded third place in the national Quickbooks competition, the district said.

To earn first place in the business plan competition, Westhampton Beach’s team — made up of Avery Allen, Brooke Bertorello, Jessica Dunn, Gavin Ehlers, Valerie Finke and Bridget Lopez — competed against 1,243 teams from across the United States.

“When Opal was announced as the first-place winner, our team was ecstatic,” said VE teacher Amy Demchak. “I can safely say that this was the highlight of my students’ senior year and a memory that all of us will always treasure. I am so proud of this amazing team and I am excited to see what the future holds for this bright group of young entrepreneurs.”

Team Opal’s virtual business plan focused an online thrift store aimed at alleviating the harmful effects of fast fashion on the environment while providing a new life for pre-loved garments, the district said.

"Opal embraces the side-hustle economy, appealing to consignors with its up-front payout method," the district said.

In addition to team Opal winning first place, Virtual Enterprise students placed third in the Quickbooks National Departmental Competition and were finalists in the human resources and marketing competitions.

The students who took the prize included: Brooke Bertorello, Gavin Ehlers, and Valerie Finke, for QuickBooks; Avery Allen, Abbie Jarzombek, and Bridget Lopez, for marketing; and James Daniels, Jessica Dunn, and Mason Sattler, for human resources.

The Westhampton Beach High School Virtual Enterprise business program requires students to create a business concept and formulate plans to market their vision; the students compete and present their plans at several events and competitions throughout the year, the district said.