Six Virtual Enterprise students traveled to New York City recently to compete at the Virtual Enterprise International Youth Business Summit. Virtual Enterprise is a program in which students run a virtual business and conduct several business activities such as advertising, promoting and accounting. Over 500 virtual enterprise firms exist worldwide; all come to New York City each spring to compete against other firms in various competitions. Firms market their virtual product or service and sell to other firms, no actual money or product changes hands, students just go through the process.

The DCHS firm earned honorable mention in Elevator Pitch, Company Branding and Company Newsletter and top 25 in Company Website. The students were able to buy and sell from other firms while attending the summit as well as form contracts with other firms in order to boost virtual sales upon returning home. Students visited over 500 booths from countries all over the world to gain insight into international trade and currency conversion.

Additionally, while in NYC, students were able to use networking, communication, leadership, teambuilding, public speaking skills from the summit in everyday fashion while exploring the sites of New York.  Two students were interviewed by Tom Kelly, Good Morning America audience coordinator, regarding their virtual enterprise company, Orion. Seeing Wall Street, the charging bull, the New York Stock Exchange, the World Trade Center complex, and other places along the financial district really put what the students are learning into perspective.

Students who attended were Tyree Cripps, Mackenzie Partridge, Eli Cantrell, Parker Gassaway, Ealy Gassaway and Raiden Martin. The group would like to extend a special thank you to Lee Foster for securing us a tour of the Electric Lady Studios.