Local schools compete in statewide business competition

Oak Hill High School students took part in the The JA Titan Challenge on April 11 at one of the host sites at Thomas College. Front from left are Isabel Pierre, Lindsey Bailey, Cade Fessenden, Kendall Theriault, Austin Voye and Dellia Custer. Back from left are Colby Marcotte, David Hall, Austin Sullivan, Dominick Plourde, Noah Perrier and Jacob Reid. The other local schools that participated at Thomas College were Erskine Academy, Madison Area Memorial High School, and Gardiner Area High School. Submitted photo

Junior Achievement of Maine hosted its 18th annual JA Titan Challenge for high school students across the state on April 11. The business competition pitted high school students in teams of three against one another, as they attempted to manage a cell phone company in a competitive marketplace.

Thomas College in Waterville was one of the host sites for the Junior of Achievement of Maine JA Titan Challenge.

The JA Titan Challenge offers students an opportunity to engage in STEM learning through practical application of math and technology concepts. Leading as business CEOs in the simulation, students learn how to evaluate alternatives, make impactful decisions, analyze their outcomes, work with data sets, and use that information to strategize for the future. This immersive experience fosters a continual cycle of investigation and response, providing a real-world learning opportunity that prepares students for success beyond the classroom, according to a news release from Junior Achievement of Maine.

In preparation for the competition, students received a series of lessons in their classrooms before being taken beyond the walls of their school to compete against teams from across the state. The Titan Challenge, hosted at eight locations across the state, brought together nearly 350 students from 29 high schools, 110 mentors, and many more educators and volunteers from more than 50 companies around Maine.

Host sites included IDEXX, Tyler Technologies, Dead River Company, Systems Engineering, Bangor Savings Bank, Thomas College, Machias Savings Bank, and the University of Maine — Presque Isle Campus.

The overall first place winners were Yarmouth 7 — Quinn Layman, Jacob Zur Muhlen and George Brown. Emily Sullivan of Tyler Technologies was their mentor. The second place winners were Yarmouth 2 — Gideon Ahrens, Ben Flowerdew and Chris Auger. CJ McCarron of Tyler Technologies was their mentor.