Atlantic Cape Business 101 Students Use Business Acumen in Contest to Determine Best Business Proposals

MAYS LANDING — Business 101 students from Atlantic Cape Community College, in collaboration with Rutgers University’s Statewide Partnership at Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing campus, competed in a “Shark Tank-style” competition to test their business acumen and creativity.

Utilizing the knowledge they have learned in their respective Introduction to Business (BUSN101) classes this Fall semester, students from Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management Jeanine DiNardo’s classes presented their business plan proposals before classmates and two judges. Rutgers Associate Program Manager Elizabeth Moore and Cape May County bizHub Director Christopher Stenger determined which teams came up with the best business proposal, best business plan/mission statement and best logo.

“This final project was an assessment designed to incorporate concepts learned during the semester,” said DiNardo. “It was also designed to build soft skills, such as leadership, delegation, teamwork, conflict resolution and communication.”

Business partner teams consisting of three to five students each were formed during the first week of the semester. They incorporated into their presentations the knowledge they gained in business, economics, management, leadership, ownership, human resources, marketing and finance.

Each student then assumed the role of their business’ general manager, marketing manager, human resources manager and finance manager. For each position in their business proposals, the students were required to research job responsibilities and salaries.

For their oral presentations, the teams developed detailed PowerPoint slideshows. Dressed in business casual attire, the students delivered their presentations in front of the class to convince them on the merits of their business ideas. Winners in their respective categories received certificates and prizes.

Here is a list of the winning teams from both classes:

Wednesday BUSN101 class: Pine Barrens - Best Business Proposal: Crystal Nguyen, Yahir Medina, Frank Sargente and Natalie Funez; All Around Fitness - Best Business Plan: Brooke Tell, Bastion Hess, Nicolas Cerpa, Mariela Garcia-Cabrera and Alex Ramos-Hernandez; Club Alter - Best Logo: Dominique Harvey, Michelle Serna, Alexandra Lushina and Anthony Farrell.

Thursday BUSN101 class: Planet Paw - Best Business Proposal: Riley Effinger, Kaytlin Chambers, Sophiabella Tibbrine and Keyri Hernandez; Vibespresso - Best Mission Statement: Julia Alves-Saiter, Aila Shelley and Chloe McClaren; EcoWash - Best Logo: Jonathon Costa, Alfredo Rodriguez, Landon Kurz and Jorel Maravilla.

“This is my third year doing these business proposals in class and the students again did very well. This time the Rutgers contest component really added a friendly competitive edge to it as well,” DiNardo concluded.

Rutgers University offers 11 undergraduate degree programs and one graduate degree program through the Rutgers-Atlantic Cape partnership with all classes led by Rutgers faculty at Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing campus. Many programs include online components, making it even easier for you to fulfill your degree requirements. Visit the Rutgers University at Atlantic Cape site for more information on how you may earn a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers right here in Mays Landing.

Visit atlanticcape.edu today for more information or to register for Winter and Spring classes at Atlantic Cape.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.