Woodland Hills Takes First Place at Entrepreneurship Challenge

Six students from Woodland Hills High School won first and second place across 30 counties during the Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge held Tuesday at LaRoche College.

Recognized for their early business savvy, strategic planning and ability to create budgets, the students were honored Thursday morning as guests at the Junior Achievement board of directors retreat, held at the offices of Thorp, Reed and Armstrong at One Oxford Center.

“This is what makes me want to be a teacher,” said Sheila Thompson, the team’s coach and Woodland Hills business teacher. “When you see their success, you know you are doing something right.”

Lauren Roney, 18, of Wilkins Township and Jamal Yesko, 17, of Turtle Creek won first place, while Anthony Young, 18, of Braddock and Brandon Sachs, 18, of Turtle Creek, took second. Students Monte Chapman and Sekonda Johnson also was a member of the first place team, but unable to attend Thursday's event.

During the competition, students played a virtual game called “Titan” in which they run a business. Teams use everything they have learned at school to market their business, utilize demographics knowledge, product management and how to maintain a budget. The students competed against 28 other schools across western Pennsylvania.

Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania is  an organization "dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs," according to its website.

“We focused on how much money we put into marketing, research and development,” Young said. “It was all about watching our money, but not being afraid to take risks.”

Young is majoring in computer and information systems next year as he moves on to Robert Morris University.

Sachs, who will be pursuing a business major at the same college, said it felt good to be rewarded Thursday morning for all of their hard work as a team.

“It feels like a great honor because not many people get to come to this,” he said.

Roney, who is pursuing a major in business management with her fellow winners at RMU next year, said getting the chance to compete and become a champion was a true thrill.

“I enjoyed the atmosphere,” she said. “Everyone was dressed for success and and it was like the business atmosphere I will be getting into someday.”

Roney is looking forward to owning her own company after finishing college.

“It feel awesome to be here,” she said. “I’m so excited because it’s such a great experience to be able to talk to the board members here. It’s amazing.”

Yesko, who will be a senior at Woodland Hills next year, said he is looking forward to helping more students get involved in the team and learn the process of the competition.

“It was a lot of fun and I met a few new kids,” he said. “It’s an experience I will keep with me for awhile.”

This is the second year Woodland Hills High School has competed at the event. Last year, the team placed third.

First place winners received a $300 gift card to Best Buy while the second place winners received a $200 gift card to the same store. The school also received a trophy.

Thompson said at the end of the year, the students write a full business plan and know the basis of what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

“I am extremely proud,” she said. “This is a very positive thing -- our students can do anything.”

Thompson said she lives the motto of the high school, which is “Whatever it takes.”

“I did whatever it took to make our kids successful,” she said. “It’s an unsigned oath you take as a teacher. You have to love what you do and love the kids.”