The high school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter hosted “The Lion’s Den:  A Marketing Challenge” on April 23, based on the television show “Shark Tank.” Moderated by Monica Krawczyk and Joanne Macrelli, the event showcased the efforts and accomplishments of students enrolled in marketing courses.

Students were given time in their social media class, sports entertainment marketing class and college marketing class to invent a product or service that does not currently exist, create a prototype for it on paper, and present or pitch the idea to a panel of “Lion’s Den” judges.  The event itself and the willingness and ability of the students to understand and experience business skills solidifies the material taught in West Islip’s business classes on the high school level. 

First place went to “Ed-Pen” by Machlin Fellman, Alexander Holder, Emma Klein and Kevin Rion from Patricia Morgigno’s IB business class. Second place went to “Gift-Guesser” by Zach Martin and Tom McElwee, and third place to “Dress-Me Mirror” by Carly DeCourteau, Sedona Kopp and Skyla Simpson; all students in Diana Saadat’s social media marketing class. The winners of the event were treated to a bagel breakfast for their entire class. 

“The ability to have an opportunity to create something and then market that creation to a panel of judges extemporaneously, is a big deal when it comes to helping students to understand the real world of business and marketing,” Macrelli said.

“We have been hosting ‘The Lion’s Den’ for years and the students are always enthusiastic about participating,” Krawczyk said. “This event provides a valuable and meaningful venue for our business students to practice the entrepreneurial skills that they learn in their various business courses.”