IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.
STATEN ISLAND, NY — Staten Island middle school students at Egbert Intermediate School (IS 2) recently won top prizes during a national business plan competition.
Seventh- and eighth-graders at the Midland Beach school participated in the Virtual Enterprise Junior Venture second national business plan competition. Each program throughout the country submits a plan and pitch during the preliminary round and select teams make the national semifinals. During the semifinals, students pitched the plan during a Zoom interview with a panel of judges, followed by a question-and-answer round. From there, only four teams in each grade level — at the seventh- and eighth-grade level — advance to the national finals.
Teams then again pitch to a panel of judges, followed by a question-and-answer event. Some sections of the pitch include issues and solutions, marketing plans and financial overview — such as break-even analysis, sales to date and placement of sales.
The IS 2 team of seventh-grade students passed through multiple rounds to place third overall in the country at the seventh-grade level. This team proposed a clothing and accessory company called Anvi. The team received a plaque and a $50 Amazon gift card for each team member.
The eighth-grade team at the middle school also made it through multiple rounds to win first place overall countrywide at the eighth-grade level. The team proposed a hair care company called Rarity. This team also received a plaque, and each team member received a $150 Amazon gift card.
WINNERS OF CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) recently announced the winners of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 11th Congressional District. Brooklyn resident Anastasia Kril, who attends Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, won first place for her piece, titled “Blossoming into Adulthood.” It will be displayed in the Capitol for one year alongside the winners from each congressional district.
The runner-up for this year’s competition was Staten Island resident Cesar Angeles Montalvo, who attended Curtis High School in St. George. He will have his piece, titled “Rebirth,” displayed in Malliotakis’ Washington, DC, office for one year.
Congressional Art Competition winners were recently named for 2023. Brooklyn resident Anastasia Kril, who attends Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, won first place for the piece titled “Blossoming into Adulthood,” shown left. The runner-up for this year’s competition was Staten Island resident Cesar Angeles Montalvo, who attended Curtis High School in St. George, for his piece “Rebirth,” shown on the right. (Courtesy/Malliotakis’ office)
“I was proud to congratulate both Anastasia and Cesar, both extremely talented artists, for winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” said Malliotakis. “Not only do their pieces showcase their fantastic artistic abilities, but they also tell personal stories of reflection, overcoming internal struggles, and their dreams for the future. I’m delighted they chose to share their talents with us; they should be extremely proud of themselves. I look forward to welcoming Anastasia to Washington to see her work on full display in the Capitol this fall.”
“Blossoming into Adulthood” is described as a self-portrait with a black background that “brings forth the illuminated face of a teen girl with a dreamy look on her face,” said Anastasia. Her head is inclined to her right, and both of her hands move into the same direction in a dance-like motion, she described, adding that her posture conveys she is reflecting and dreaming about her future as an aspiring American artist.
Cesar described “Rebirth” as an internal struggle — something that all individuals have experienced that he said can be “both the catalyst for a total metamorphosis of the self, a rebirth.”
The third- and fourth-place winners will have their artwork displayed in Malliotakis’ Staten Island and Brooklyn district offices for one year. The third-place winner was Alexandra Schwab of Susan E. Wagner High School, Sea View, for a piece titled “Blooming Innocence.” The fourth-place winner was Ben Prestino of Xaverian High School in Brooklyn for his piece, titled Eyes Wide Open.”
STUDENTS MAKE DEAN’S LIST
Several students from Staten Island made the dean’s list at Siena College for the spring 2023 semester.
Those students include: Emily Atassi, Athena Bennani, Yostina Henain, Alexis Pagan and Kate Reilly.
Siena College is located in Loudonville, NY, and is a private, Catholic Franciscan, residential, liberal arts college with a student body of about 3,000.
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