New Hyde Park High School Wins Top Prize in Challenge

Students from New Hyde Park Memorial High School took the top prize in the second annual “Comptroller’s Entrepreneurial Challenge,” hosted by George Maragos Wednesday.

They competed with 200 business students from high schools across Nassau County for more than $33,000 in scholarship and cash prizes from various sponsors, including local universities; vendors from Mineola and Plainview contributed food and trophies.

The New Hyde Park students scored $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,” Maragos said, in a statement. 

“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,” he added.

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:

• First Place New Hyde Park Memorial High School: $10,000 scholarships to Hofstra University and Adelphi University plus $5,000 cash from Healthplex.
• Second place was $5000 cash from Deloitte and the winner was Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School  (team name: TRAMPOLINE MACHINE).
• Third place was $2,500 from Emblem Health and the winner was Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School (team name: Pawsitively Paradise).
• Fourth 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.