Middle School Entrepreneurs Shine at Youth Business Summit

On April 23, 2026, our 8th-grade Virtual Enterprise class supported by their advisors, Ms. Tanner and Mr. McKinnon, participated in the 2026 Youth Business Summit at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This internationally recognized event brought together more than 160 schools from over 18 states and 6 countries, creating a highly competitive and professional environment for student-run businesses.

In previous years, our students attended the summit as customers, exploring and learning from other student companies. This year marked an exciting milestone, as it was the first time our middle school competed at the event, stepping into the role of entrepreneurs and business leaders on an international stage.

The class represented Skin Ink, their student-founded LLC, continuing to showcase and expand its line of skin-safe products designed to encourage creative, safe self-expression. Throughout the day, students engaged in high-level professional interactions, promoted their products, networked with peers from around the world, and connected with real business professionals, gaining valuable insight into industry practices. Notably, our school made close to 90 sales during the exhibition, demonstrating strong engagement and interest in our products.

A major highlight of the event was the Business Plan Competition, where our team competed against 14 other middle schools. Students delivered a formal presentation outlining their company and strategy, followed by a question-and-answer session in which they responded thoughtfully to judges’ questions about their mission, product development, and financial planning.

We are especially proud of our Business Plan Presentation team: Sophia Penafiel, Jefferson Segovia, Joseph Portaro, Alexia Alvarado, and Zoe Vann. They represented our school with confidence and professionalism.

This experience reflects the continued growth of our Virtual Enterprise program and the dedication of our students. Competing at this level for the first time is an incredible accomplishment, and we look forward to building on this success in the future!