High School Business Case Competition Held
Students in the University’s Business High School Scholars Club hosted a case competition for area high school students. First row, from left: Rebekah Bernard, University of Scranton admissions; Kylie Seyler, Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School; Emma Boyle, Commonwealth Charter Academy; Marisol Olivares Hernandez, North Pocono High School; and Madison Green, Valley View High School. Second row: Sarah Zaleppa, Crestwood High School; Joseph Kologe, West Scranton High School; Zi Xuan Weng, Coughlin High School; and Abigail Kush, Coughlin High School. Third row: Brooke Weiss, Crestwood High School; Randall Bonitz Jr., West Scranton High School; Jose Santiago de los Rios, Wyoming Seminary; and Claudia Pitts, Scranton High School. Row four: Conor Adams, Abington Heights High School; Russell Booth, Abington Heights High School; and Justin Williams, Abington Heights High School. Back row: judges for the competition William Conaboy, Esq.; Peter Butera; Pedro Olivares Hernandez; Daniel Mahoney, Ph.D., professor of accounting at the University; Douglas Boyle, DBA, chair of the University’s Accounting Department; and Harry Zike.The University of Scranton’s Business High School Scholars Club held a case competition for area high school students in May in Brennan Hall. The competition provided area high school students with the opportunity to analyze a business, formulate strategic recommendations, and make a formal presentation to a team of executive judges and faculty.
The idea for the competition came from the officers of the Business High School Scholars Club, who are high school students taking college courses at the University through the Business High School Scholars Program. Club officers include: Emma Boyle of Peckville, president, Commonwealth Charter Academy; Kylie Seyler of Wilkes-Barre, vice president, Wyoming Seminary; Marisol Olivares Hernandez of Covington Township, secretary, North Pocono High School; Alyssa Moore of Dickson City, treasurer, Mid Valley Secondary Center; and Madison Green of Archbald, historian, Valley View High School.
“Our club includes students from 12 area high schools who enjoy working together to network, learn and earn college credit,” said Emma Boyle, a senior at Commonwealth Charter Academy and incoming accounting major at The University of Scranton. “This competition provided yet another outstanding opportunity for our club to work closely with supportive faculty, generous executive alumni and area high school students interested in business to learn and network.”
Based on the judging at the competition, the top four teams were recognized. First place honors were awarded to two teams, each receiving $500 and individual plaques. The first-place team members were: Conor Adams and Russell Booth, both from Abington Heights High School, Jose Santiago de los Rios, Wyoming Seminary; and Justin Williams, Abington Heights High School. Members of the second team earning first place honors were: Brooke M. Weiss and Sarah Zaleppa, both from Crestwood High School. Second place honors were awarded to two teams, each receiving $250 and individual plaques. The second-place team members were: Randall L. Bonitz, Jr. and Joseph Kologe, both from West Scranton High School, and Claudia Pitts, Scranton High School. Members of the second team earning second-place honors were: Abigail Kush and Zi Xuan Weng, both from Coughlin High School.
The judges and financial supporters for the competition included Peter Butera, senior vice president, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, William Conaboy, Esq., president and CEO, Allied Services Integrated Health System; Chris Kane, trustee of The University of Scranton; Daniel Mahoney, Ph.D., accounting professor at The University of Scranton; Pedro Olivares Hernandez, area business owner; and Harry Zike, CFO, Chinook Sciences.
“It is an honor to serve as a judge in this competition. These high school students are brave, bright and articulate, and they give us a sense of confidence in our future business professionals,” said Dr. Mahoney.
The officers of the Business High School Scholars Club worked with the University’s Rebekah Bernard, information and technology specialist for admissions and enrollment, Laura Talerico, Accounting Department administrative assistant, and Douglas Boyle, DBA, associate professor and Accounting Department chair, to make the event a success.
The Business High School Scholars Program at the University allows local high school students to take business and other courses at a reduced tuition rate. Students who apply should be entering junior and senior year with at least a 3.3 GPA. The students can apply credits earned toward a University degree, leading toward a path for an accelerated bachelor’s or even a master’s degree in a business area, saving them valuable time and money. Students may also apply for financial assistance with tuition and books, available through grants and the generosity of faculty, staff and alumni.
For more information about the Business High School Scholars Program, visit scranton.edu/bhsscholars or contact Rebekah Bernard in the Admissions Office at 570-941-5918 or by email at rebekah.bernard@scranton.edu.
