As an institution of higher education, St. Joseph’s University prides itself on preparing the next generation for the world that awaits them post-graduation. This not only applies to the University’s own students, but also the young adults that will be attending college within a few short months or years.
Nowhere is this better displayed than during SJNY’s annually hosted Ready. Set. Lead. Competition.
The John A. Danzi Athletic Center was filled with enthusiastic young minds, excited to present their ideas.
Held on Dec. 3, this year’s event attracted high schools from across Long Island who presented their fresh ideas in areas related to entrepreneurship, health care, hospitality, sports and entertainment, marketing, not-for-profit fundraising, retail marketing, human resources, technology and finance.
A total of 328 students registered this year throughout 14 schools that included:
- Jericho High School
- Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center
- Center Moriches High School
- Commack High School
- Half Hollow Hills East High School
- Harborfields High School
- Herricks High School
- Lindenhurst High School
- North Babylon High School
- Northport High School
- Syosset High School
- Garden City High School
- North Shore High School
- Kellenburg High School
Students prepared in the John A. Danzi Athletic Center Gymnasium as they awaited their turn to walk over to the McGann Conference Center and present before SJNY staff and faculty, who evaluated them on their knowledge, poise, verbal and non-verbal skills, and response techniques. Most judges work as professionals in the areas that students presented in, adding to the challenge and encouraging students to be accurate and authentic.
SJNY faculty and staff served as judges, using their expertise to accurately evaluate students.
And though some students were nervous to present, their excitement outweighed any reluctance.
“We’ve done this for the past two years, so it wasn’t anything new, to be honest, but of course presenting in front of the judges is nerve wracking as always. So, we just try to be happy and smiley and enthusiastic as much as possible,” said one student from Herricks High School.
When asked what they learned from the experience, a student from Lindenhurst High School said, “It taught me to be more prepared going into it, since we didn’t have a lot of it memorized and we kind of saved it for the last minute. I think this was a lesson in procrastination and being more on top of work.”
The Ready. Set. Lead. Competition was founded nearly 20 years ago as the Emerging Leaders Competition by the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce with St. Joseph’s now spearheading the event.
Congratulations to this year’s winners
Entrepreneurship A
- First place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
- Second place: Northport High School
- Third place: Harborfields High School
Entrepreneurship B
- First place: Syosset High School
- Second place: Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center
- Third place: Northport High School
Hospitality Services A
- First place: Syosset High School
- Second place: Garden City High School
- Third place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
Hospitality Services B
- First place: Herricks High School
- Second place: Northport High School
- Third place: Commack High School
Technology
- First place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Garden City High School
Human Resources
- First place: Jericho High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
Not-for-Profit Fundraising A
- First place: Syosset High School
- Second place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
- Third place: North Shore High School
Not-for-Profit Fundraising B
- First place: Syosset High School
- Second place: Herricks High School
- Third place: Jericho High School
Retail Marketing A
- First place: Herricks High School
- Second place: Syosset High School
- Third place: Harborfields High School
Retail Marketing B
- First place: Garden City High School
- Second place: Syoseet High School
- Third place: Herricks High School
Sports & Entertainment Marketing A
- First place: Herricks High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Northport High School
Sports & Entertainment Marketing B
- First place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Commack High School
Sports & Entertainment Marketing C
- First place: Commack High School
- Second place: Northport High School
- Third place: Garden City High School
Finance A
- First place: Jericho High School
- Second place: Garden City
- Third place: Herricks High School
Finance B
- First place: Syosett High School
- Second place: Harborfields High School
- Third place: Syosett High School
Healthcare A
- First place: Herricks High School
- Second place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
- Third place: Jericho High School
Healthcare B
- First place: Northport High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Herricks High School
Branding & Graphic Design A
- First place: Half Hallow Hills East High School
- Second place: Herricks High School
- Third place: Jericho High School
Branding & Graphic Design B
- First place: Northport High School
- Second place: Center Moriches High School
- Third place: Jericho High School
Interview 9-10
- First place: Jericho High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Syosett High School
Interview 11-12
- First place: Herricks High School
- Second place: Jericho High School
- Third place: Herricks High School
