Winners of National Business Plan Competition Announced!

The winners of the 2007 Annual U.S. Network of Virtual Enterprises & Merrill Lynch National Business Plan Competition were announced on March 30th, by NYC Schools Chancellor Joel I. Kline and Def Jams Record Founder Russell Simmons at the 69th St. Armory. The top 3 virtual business plan winners are: * First Place: Universal Promotions, Edward R Murrow HS in Brooklyn, NY * Second Place: Universal Connections, Centennial HS in Bakersfield, CA * Third Place: Sac-Shack, Frank W Cox HS in Virginia Beach, VA Students from across the country traveled to New York City on March 28th and 29th to present their business plans to a panel of judges representing major corporations, including many on the Fortune 500. The top three schools have won a combined $25,000 in cash. This competition is meant to highlight the importance helping high school students develop skills in economics, business and finance to become successful entrepreneurs, and the next generation of CEOs. This weeks participants were also joined by students from around the world in the 2007 inaugural Merrill Lynch Global Business Challenge from countries including Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Sweden, and Austria. Students simulated how multi-national teams organize and collaborate to manage and run a successful global enterprise. The winners of this challenge were announced later. Providing educational opportunities to young people of all backgrounds is our top philanthropic priority and in a radically globalizing economy, giving deserving students exposure to international experiences in increasingly important, says Merrill Lynch Chairman and CEO Stan ONeal. With peer competition as their driver, students are showcasing the teamwork, business acumen, presentation skills, financial aptitudes, and leadership qualities of today’s top-performing professionals. These skills are crucial for their career growth and for our economy.” New York City Site of Competitions: New York City is proud to host the next generation of business leaders and visionaries,” said NYC Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott. “I commend Virtual Enterprises, Merrill Lynch, and W! SE for their commitment to helping kids develop the skills necessary to succeed in their careers and their lives.” For any high school student that envisions themselves working in banking, marketing or even retail, this is an invaluable experience, says Paul Presti, a teacher and VE coordinator at New Dorp High School, a NYC finalist this year. The competitions were held at Baruch College, which embodies the international nature of business today. Its students come from more than 90 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, creating a rich academic and social environment that reflects the diversity of New York City and prepares them for the global marketplace. In fact, U.S. News & World Report has named Baruch the most ethnically diverse institution of higher education in the nation. It offers students the opportunity to participate in an exciting learning experience that inspires innovative thinking and paves the way for the creation of new business ideas and solutions. Students become financially literate, business savvy and economically competitive as a result. More about John Jastremski: John Jastremski is the Assistant Director of Virtual Enterprises, International, a New York City Department of Education program. Now in its 11th year, the VE program has grown in New York City public schools from 7 programs in 1996 to over 75 programs today. Under his leadership, the concept has been replicated in over 450 secondary and post-secondary schools across the United States. Mr. Jastremski was formerly an adjunct lecturer at City University of New York, Queensborough and an Accounting teacher at Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers. He received his BA in Social Sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, an MBA in Accounting and an MSEd in Education Supervision and Administration from Baruch College. He currently resides in New York. https://videos.whiteblox.com/gnb/secure/player.aspx?sid=32359