Brookdale Community College welcomed more than 100 high school students to campus in December as host of the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce (MRCC) Education Foundation’s annual Team Challenge, a signature program that immerses students in team building, ethical decision making, and real-world business problem solving.

Over 100 high school students participated in this year’s Team Challenge, which was held at Brookdale’s Lincroft campus and this year expanded beyond the Freehold Regional High School District to include students from Holmdel, North Middletown, and Ocean Township High Schools.

Presented annually by the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, the program is designed to develop the business, leadership, and ethical decision-making skills of current and future leaders across Monmouth County. The MRCC Education Foundation’s mission is to serve current and future business leaders within the greater Monmouth area by providing information and programs designed to develop the business and leadership skills needed to successfully serve employees, customers, and communities in a profitable and ethical manner, and to promote public awareness of business and its value to the community.

Throughout the day, student teams tackled a complex business ethics case study, sharpening their collaboration, critical thinking, and presentation skills while engaging directly with leaders from Monmouth County’s business, education, and nonprofit sectors.

“The level of insight, teamwork, and ethical thinking demonstrated through Team Challenge reflects the promise of these students as future professionals and leaders,” said David M. Stout, Ph.D., president of Brookdale, who served as a judge and provided feedback to participating teams.

Trophies were awarded to the top three teams, with Marlboro High School earning first place, Colts Neck High School taking second, and Ocean High School placing third. Awards were presented by Platinum Sponsor Carol Stillwell of Stillwell-Hanson,Inc., who also offered words of encouragement to the students.

In addition to Dr. Stout and Stillwell, the panel of judges included Gerald Cioci of Cioci Law Firm, LLC; Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes, DM, MBA, director of the Brookdale Community College Small Business Development Center; Jennise Nieves director of KEYS Academy Recovery High School of MARDS, located on Brookdale’s campus; Nicole Pulliam, Ph.D., of Real and Worthy, LLC; and Meagan Solomon of Corebridge Financial.

Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, who has been a guest speaker at Team Challenge each year, praised the program’s expansion as a countywide initiative serving students throughout the Monmouth area.

The MRCC Team Challenge Committee is led by co-chairs Jeremy Posluszny of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and Sherilyn Przelomski of Business Enhancement Services & Training LLC, and includes committee members Susan Pagano, Ed.D.,executive director of Continuing and Professional Studies at Brookdale Community College, Tara Demyanovich of Outside the Box Gift, Denise King of the Monmouth County Education Association, Erika Boyer of Edward Jones–Marlboro, and Brookdale Alum Jared Logan of Go 4 Hire.

Team Challenge’s continued success and expansion would not be possible without the support of Shanna Howell, Ed.D., director of Curriculum And Instruction at Freehold Regional High School and the many teacher facilitators at Colts Neck High School, Freehold High School, Freehold Township High School, Howell High School, Manalapan High School, Marlboro High School, Holmdel High School, North Middletown High School, and Ocean Township High School who gave their time and effort to this year’s Team Challenge.

About Team Challenge

Team Challenge uses the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics framework from Santa Clara University to explore business issues that have complex ethical implications. Prior to the actual competition, the MRCC brought in a guest speaker and conducted a teacher training program as well as a student orientation to provide an overview of the challenge and the process. The topic of this year’s “Ethics and Business Initiative for Tomorrow’s Leaders” was an Apple vs. FBI case study. Over a period of weeks, the students worked together in teams to show their understanding of the dilemma, formulate solutions, and create presentations for a panel of judges from within the business community.

Businesses and organizations from throughout the area generously lent their support as Team Challenge sponsors. Thanks go to:

• Host Sponsor – Brookdale Community College
• Breakfast Sponsor – Monmouth County Education Association
• Platinum Sponsor – Stillwell-Hanson, Inc.
• Gold Sponsors –Monmouth Medical Center/RWJ Barnabas Health
• Silver Sponsors – New Jersey Natural Gas, County of Monmouth County, Glen Eagle Advisors
• Bronze Sponsors – CentraState Healthcare System, EZ Dock, Farmers Insurance, Vin Gopal Civic Association

Featured Photo: Left to Right Top Row:(Co-Chair of Team Challenge) Jeremy Posluszny, Gerald Cioci, Dr. Nicole Pulliam, Jennise Nieves, Dr. David Stout, (Co-Chair of Team Challenge) Sherilyn Przelomski
Left to Right Bottom Row: Meagan Solomon, Carol Stillwell, Dr. Jackeline Mejia-Fuertes.