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From the classroom to the boardroom
High School East and West students put their best foot forward on Thursday as they participated in the Perfect Pitch speed networking event, featuring a special “Boardroom Finals” twist.
Hosted by Smithtown Industry Advisory Board (IAB) Executive Director Phil Como and SCSD Director of Career and Technical Education Christine LoFrese, the event challenged students to rotate through three real-world business scenarios, delivering 60-second pitches to industry professionals and judges. Top performers from each scenario advanced to the Boardroom Finals, where critical thinking and problem-solving skills took center stage.
During the final round, students randomly selected briefcases containing one of three business focus areas—Marketing and Sales, Human Resources, or Business Management. Finalists were given two minutes to prepare before entering “The Boardroom,” where they presented their solutions in a four-minute presentation to a panel of judges.
The first-place winner, Ashlynn Renkowski of High School West, earned the prestigious title of 2026 Chairwoman of the Board and received a commemorative desk plaque and an Amazon gift card.
James Huxtable of High School East placed second, and Isabella Paliwoda of High School West placed third.
“The work being done here is phenomenal,” said SCSD Superintendent Dr. Mark Secaur. “This program has done an amazing job, and today they’ve taken it to another level.”
As a direct result of education-industry initiatives promoted through the Smithtown IAB, HIA-LI, the 2025 Long Island Workforce Summit, and the Long Island Superintendents Association—championed by Dr. Secaur—partnerships between education and industry continue to provide students with a true value-added learning experience. Through direct work experiences, industry mentorships, and collaborative programs and projects, students benefit from a “living learning environment” that brings classroom instruction to life and exposes them to a wide range of career opportunities.
“The opportunities afforded to our students through more than 500 Smithtown IAB industry partnerships provide real-world, living learning experiences,” said Mr. Como. “These experiences help prepare our students for careers that offer the greatest opportunities for future success.”
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