Once again Monroe College will be the host of the Virtual Enterprise Business Plan Competition for Bronx high schools. On Monday, November 21 beginning at 1 pm, teams from ten Bronx high schools will make presentations of business plans they’ve devised for virtual enterprises.  The winning team will participate in the city-wide competition in December and ultimately, the winners will compete in the first-ever national competition in New York City in April 5-6, 2006, which carries with it $25,000 in prizes, sponsored by a grant from the Merrill Lynch Foundation.

"We support creative and academic opportunities for high school students," said Associate Academic Dean Carol Genese. "The Virtual Enterprise competition not only helps them develop business acumen, but it gives them a head start on what it’s like to be successful in the real – the virtual – world."

This is the fifth time the college has hosted the Virtual Enterprise competition. It is expected that more than 300 Bronx high school students will be participating in the competition. Participating schools are the Bronx High School of Business at the Taft Campus, Clinton, Fordham Leadership at the Roosevelt Campus, Grace Dodge, John F. Kennedy, Walton, Stevenson, , Lehman, Bronx Regional and Jane Addams.

The VE Business Plan Competition is one of the integral components of the Virtual Enterprises program. This applied learning activity, offers participants the opportunity to actualize the world of work---applying communication skills, using technology, engaging in teamwork and applying economic and financial concepts as they trade in the global marketplace. The competition will highlight the enthusiasm, talent, commitment and achievement of students in the Virtual Enterprises, International program as they make the transition from school to career.

Virtual Enterprises is a program initiative of the New York City Department of Education Office of Teaching and Learning/Career and Technical Education. Visit them on the web at www.VEinternational.org .

Founded in 1933, Monroe College has grown to become one of New York’s leading colleges offering programs in business, technology, and professional studies. With campuses in the Fordham section of the Bronx and downtown New Rochelle, Monroe offers a master’s degree program in business management, bachelor’s degree programs in accounting, business management, computer information systems, criminal justice, general business, health services administration, and hospitality management as well as associate degree programs in accounting and finance, business administration, business technologies, computer information systems, criminal justice, culinary arts, hospitality management, medical administration, and medical assisting.