News Release

Wilmington University, BNY Mellon, PNC Host 1st Annual Business Strategy Simulation Contest at August 1 Millennial Summit

Top teams of high school students from Delaware ASPIRA Clubs competed in championship round at the Chase Center.

Many high school students are interested in a business major in college or entrepreneurship but have little opportunity to learn about the sector before graduating. To address this issue, a coalition of professionals from Wilmington University, BNY Mellon, PNC and the ASPIRA Youth Leadership Development Program developed a fun way to introduce students to the basic fundamentals of business and business strategy using a business strategy simulation contest. 

The contest championship was held on Tuesday, August 1 at the Millennial Summit Young Professionals Conference at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington.

The 2017 contest included teams from different area high school ASPIRA Clubs, which are led by ASPIRA of Delaware (ASPIRA DE), a nonprofit organization that focuses on the education and leadership development of Latino youth. In the contest, each 3-person team is given an imaginary computer manufacturing company to run. 

The computer simulation prompts each team to make a series of financial and other strategic decisions, which will impact the team's total sales and bottom line. After each round, the computer aggregates the decisions of all the teams and declares a winner. Each round is cumulative, so decisions in each round can affect subsequent results.

The contest took place over two days. The competition's semi-final rounds was held on Saturday, July 29 at Wilmington University. The top teams advanced to the championship and competed on Tuesday, August 1, at the Millennial Summit at the Chase Center. Students in the contest also attended different parts of the Millennial Summit and heard from the many speakers and leaders who attended.

"We have been interested in finding creative ways to engage Latino youth and help them succeed not only in high school but in thinking critically about the choices they will have in college," said Carlos Cotto, vice president at BNY Mellon and a board member of ASPIRA DE. "Thanks to our partnership with Wilmington University, BNY Mellon, PNC, the Millennial Summit and others, we have a great way to introduce these students to business and help them determine if it is a good fit for them to consider majoring in after high school."

The contest is expected to expand in 2018. For more information about participating or helping with the planning for the 2018 contest, please contact Carlos Cotto at carlos.cotto@bnymellon.com or Samanta Lopez at slopez@udel.edu.

About ASPIRA of Delaware

ASPIRA of Delaware is a nonprofit organization devoted solely to the education and leadership development of Latino youth. ASPIRA of Delaware is a member of the ASPIRA Association and has three signature programs: ASPIRA Clubs, ASPIRA Saturday Academy Program, and Las Américas ASPIRA Academy. ASPIRA of Delaware prepares its students to succeed in the educational arena, develop their leadership skills, and to serve their community, and also provides services both to Hispanic students and parents as well as non-Hispanics. Learn more at aspirade.org.

About the Millennial Summit

The Millennial Summit is a one day experience designed to help connect young professionals, difference makers, rising stars, and other leaders who want to make an impact in Delaware and the Delaware Valley. #MILLSUMMIT will inspire everyone who attends to speak up and get involved with our community, grow professionally, meet other visionaries and innovators trying to move the needle, and empower you to take a seat at the table and start working to make a difference. Learn more at millsummit.com.

About Wilmington University

Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the second fastest growing private, nonprofit doctoral institution in America by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education (2004-2014), Wilmington University enables greater student success through affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit www.wilmu.edu.

Published: Friday, July 21, 2017 - New Castle, DE