More than 40 high school students from the across the nation immersed themselves in business education this July through the Frank G. Zarb School of Business Summer Business Experience at Hofstra University. This year, the program introduced a residential component, giving students the opportunity to experience college life while participating in business workshops and career readiness activities.
The program offered two weeklong sessions, with the second week allowing students to live on campus. Participants explored essential business disciplines — accounting, marketing, supply chain management, entrepreneurship, finance, and cybersecurity — taught by Zarb’s expert faculty in state-of-the-art facilities like the Cybersecurity Innovation and Research Center, the Behavioral Research in Business Lab, and the Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room.
“We designed this program to help high school students gain practical business knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and explore career pathways in a collegiate environment,” said Dean Janet Lenaghan, Zarb School of Business. “The program directly aligns with the Hofstra Strategic Plan in providing students with transformational learning experiences that prepare students to thrive in an evolving global marketplace.”
Students also engaged in executive-led career sessions, campus tours, team-building activities, and visits to the Federal Reserve Bank and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to meet with the Long Island Nets business operations team. Evening events, such as game night, movie night, and a visit to the Long Island Ducks, provided time for bonding and fun.
“The residential program added something truly special this year,” said Dominique Outlaw, associate dean for undergraduate programs and associate professor of finance. “You could see friendships forming, inside jokes swirling, and students stepping into the experience. They weren’t just learning about business – they were building community.”
In one of the entrepreneurship sessions, students developed their own business concepts in a mini hackathon. The winning team for the residential week, named Tutorally, pitched an AI-powered tutoring app designed to provide 24/7 academic support.
“We created an AI app to solve the problem of limited access to traditional tutoring,” said Constantine Pittas, a student from Staten Island Technical High School. “It was exciting to come up with a business idea and then pitch it like we were on Shark Tank.”
For many students, the experience helped clarify future academic and professional goals.
“Before this program, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue a minor in accounting,” said Alexis Ricoy of Long Beach High School. “But after our first lecture, I realized how much I enjoy it. Now I know I want to add it to my business management major.”
“Hofstra gave us a real taste of what it’s like to be a college student,” said Nicholas Cush, a participant from New Hyde Park. “From the dorms to the lectures, this experience showed me what I want in my college future.”
“I am passionate about pursuing a career in business because I enjoy leadership, solving problems, and making a positive impact,” said Sumedha Rao, who attends William Fremd High School in Illinois. “This program will help me develop the confidence and skills needed to become an ethical, innovative leader.”
