Allegany-Limestone Students Win

Allegany-Limestone Central School students won the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Fourth Annual Northwestern Pennsylvania Business Competition last week. Members of the winning team are, front row, from left, Katie McMullen, Abby Blumenthal, Christine Wittmeyer and Anna Jaremko, back row, Cody Vreeland, Ben Giardini, David Forsythe and Casey Ensell. (Photo Courtesy of Pitt-Bradford)

A team of eight students from Allegany-Limestone (N.Y.) Central School took top honors last week at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Fourth Annual Northwestern Pennsylvania Regional Business Competition.

Teams from seven area high schools spent two days on campus creating a sample business plan and making presentations before panels of experts and judges. They also had a chance to hear a talk from Carl Knoblock, Director of the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Each student in a team was responsible for a particular area of the plan. Students received guidance from faculty, staff and members of the Students in Free Enterprise club before reuniting with team members to write their business plan.

They presented their plan before a panel of experts at the end of the first day and used the panel’s critique to fine tune their plans before the final presentation the next afternoon.

Members of the winning team, which created a business plan for a teen night club called Club Pluto, were Christine Wittmeyer, Anna Jaremko, Ben Giardini, David Forsythe, Abigail Blumenthal, Cody Vreeland, Casey Ensell and Katie McMullen. The students’ advisor was Pat Ash. Pitt-Bradford awarded each of the winning team members a $500 Pitt-Bradford scholarship and a gift card.

In second place was the team from Coudersport Area Junior/Senior High School, which made a presentation for Sunwell Solar Panels.

Students from Smethport Area Junior/Senior High School took third with their idea for Palates, a restaurant where patrons assist in the creation of their gourmet meal.

Judges for the competition were Fred Feightner of W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co.; Jill Foys of the North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission; Ashtin Moyer of Dresser Piping Specialities; Lindsay Foster of the Pitt-Bradford Business Resource Center; and Amy L. Ward, Web manager, and Steven E. Williams, senior accountant, from Pitt-Bradford. Other schools competing were Bolivar-Richburg (N.Y.) Central School, Johnsonburg Area Junior/Senior High School, Northern Potter Junior/Senior High School and Cameron County High School.

The competition was sponsored by the Pitt-Bradford Entrepreneurship Program and Students in Free Enterprise club.