Atlantic City, N.J. – “So, who in here currently owns a stock?”

Only a couple of hands were hesitantly raised in the lecture room on the Stockton University Atlantic City campus among the group of 25 rising high school juniors and seniors.

Presenter Dylan Gutowski listened closely to the students’ answers – “I think I have stock in Starbucks!” and “I’m not sure what it’s called.” Soon, the quiet room filled with cheering and clapping as students played a virtual stock exchange game that simulated the high stakes and fast pace of trading in the stock market.

When the students from across New Jersey weren’t diversifying their stock portfolios, they were exploring the campus, learning the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship from local business leaders, and participating in a business plan competition through the weeklong Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA).

It was through SEBA that Gutowski of Rockland, New York, developed entrepreneurial savvy and relationship-building skills that landed him an internship with the camp just a year after winning the business plan competition.

The 16-year-old spread awareness of the academy at high schools throughout the state and spent the week supporting students in the business plan competition and sharing his own experiences.

“It's really cool to be able to help these students and kind of give back to a program that gave so much to me,” Gutowski said. “It's also a really diverse group; like, some people are building websites for their plans, and others are designing logos, or they're doing heavy research. There are so many different talents here, and a (successful) business needs the things that each person brings to the table. (SEBA) is a really cool team-building experience where you get to focus on using your talents for the bigger picture.” 

Mark Rizzo, director of the NJ Small Business Development Center at Stockton, shared the same sentiments about the students. This is the second year that Rizzo has given a presentation to SEBA participants on the many resources available to small businesses.

“What they're doing here is pretty awesome – I like to see young students who want to understand and want to learn, and if they have the willingness to do this for a week, then I've got to believe that they've got something going on that they want to be successful,” Rizzo said.

Students developed business plans that included a diverse production company that uplifts Black and brown talent both in front of and behind the camera, an app that makes lines for brick-and-mortar stores and businesses completely virtual, and a website that uses artificial intelligence to map out one’s career journey with only a couple of prompts.

Students Valentina Gonzalez of Lodi, Carter Chew of Egg Harbor Township and Fernando Arias of Garfield all agreed that the camp was an excellent way for them to learn and explore more about business.

“It’s been really useful because all the speakers are very well-rounded and they know exactly what they're talking about, so even if you know you want to be in business, but you don't know specifically what aspect, there are so many different speakers that show you how to try and test out what you want,” Gonzalez, a student of the Academy of Holy Angels, said. 

“I really wanted to learn more about finance, marketing and business in general because I find it quite interesting, and it is something that I would like to pursue,” Chew shared. “From today specifically, I really enjoyed the stock market competition and the ‘So, You Want to Be a Marketer’ lecture. It’s been fun and extremely informative and the connections, friendships and advice that you get along the way are extremely valid.” 

“I really like the experience and this program a lot because I'm learning new things that are helping me become who I want to be when I grow up,” said Arias, who is currently deciding between pursuing certified public accounting or business and management accounting. “It’s a good experience that shows you what college life is like.”

The students were excited to fine-tune their creations and present their ideas to a judging panel comprised of faculty members and executives of the local business community. The winning team will receive $500.

According to Tara Marsh, SEBA program director, the academy and competition transform students and help them develop a business acumen that will take them far in whatever industry they decide to pursue. 

She accomplishes this by always ensuring a balance of comfort (e.g., pairing roommates by area so that they board with a familiar face) and challenge (e.g., intentionally separating those students into different competition groups so that they connect and network with others). 

“Presenters throughout the week give them different components so that they can relate those different components into pieces of that business plan creation and see that theoretical come into the hands-on and practical execution of it,” Marsh shared.

“I just love to watch their growth and see them blossom and come out of a shell that they didn't even realize they had while they’re working with their peers to create these businesses. The amount of time, effort and passion that the students put into these plans that they eventually want to create is immeasurable.” 

The camp is free thanks to donations by Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween and other sponsors.

– Story by Loukaia Taylor

– Photos by Susan Allen

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