WPHS students capture top honors at AAMW Business Skills Olympics

An enterprising  group of White Plains High School students captured the gold medal Wednesday at the annual African American Men of Westchester (AAMW) Business Skills Olympics, rising to the top of a competitive field with a standout solution to the region’s affordable housing crisis.

The eight-student team was among 11 schools tasked with analyzing a real-world case modeled after a Harvard Business School study. Working under tight deadlines, students evaluated economic challenges, developed strategic solutions and delivered a five-minute presentation to a panel of business and community leaders.

The African American Men of Westchester partnered with White Plains Hospital and Iona University — where the event was held — to present this year’s competition.

“It felt great to win, representing Westchester County,” said junior Zarius Christopher Colson. “We put in so much work on a real-world problem that’s very prevalent right now. Knowing the judges saw our solution as viable — that meant everything.”

Tackling a crisis close to home

In addition to Zarius, the victors comprised juniors Stella Carmen Khachetoorian, Nizar Hammami, Layla Yamna Hanbali, Kelly Lisette Tirado, Karim Hammami, and seniors Sade Winter and Amanda Araujo Ramos.

The competition required students to think like executives — weighing finance, marketing, operations, technology and social responsibility — as they tackled the alarming gap between local and national housing costs and what working families earn.

“The problem this year was the Westchester County housing crisis,” Zarius said. “Every team had the same challenge, but we chose to focus on low- and middle-income families — bringing working people closer to where they work.”

Their solution was a Smart Green Residential Hub designed specifically for the City of White Plains. The mixed-income, environmentally sustainable development blended housing, workforce support and local business opportunities.

“We wanted something that was not just affordable, but livable,” the student said. “Something centered around community.”

From brainstorming to breakthrough

The path to gold was anything but simple.

“We didn’t even have a solution until the end of the first week,” Amanda said. “Then we had one week to write the script, build the presentation and pull everything together. It was stressful, but so rewarding.”

The team’s plan combined modular construction to reduce costs, public-private partnerships, sustainability grants and low-income housing tax credits — strategies designed to increase equity and pass savings directly to residents.

“Housing is a major problem. It’s expensive, and space is limited,” Karim said. “The hardest part was figuring out a solution that was actually realistic. But once we did, presenting it in a strong way made all the difference.”

That presentation — complete with a scripted opening skit, tightly structured arguments and a confident closing — set them apart.

“The most successful part was being able to take our idea and really put it on paper, then present it in a way that impressed the judges,” Karim said.

The power of teamwork

Behind the polished final product was a team that learned how to cooperate.

“We argued a lot,” Amanda admitted. “But we got closer because of it. That’s how teams work. At the end of the day, we celebrated together.”

For many students, collaboration became the biggest takeaway.

“Even if you think you have a strong idea, working with others will always make it better,” Stella said. “That’s something I’ll carry with me — even though I want to go into journalism.”

Layla agreed, pointing to the diversity of ideas across the competition.

“Every team approached the problem differently based on their community,” she said. “That really showed the personality of each school. What set us apart was our preparation — and the way we supported each other.”

She also noticed the importance of respect.

“Staying kind and open to other ideas is huge,” Layla said. “We’re all trying to solve the same problems. That mindset makes a difference.”
Lessons beyond the classroom

For Karim, one lesson stood above the rest: no solution succeeds alone.

“The importance of partnerships really stood out,” he said. “Without support from businesses or the community, you can’t actually execute your idea. But when you build those connections, that’s when things become possible.”

That real-world perspective is exactly what the competition is designed to teach, said business teacher Jesse Drury.

“This mirrors what students do in business school — case studies, presentations, working through complex problems,” Mr. Drury said. “But more importantly, they learn how to collaborate, manage different personalities and stay focused on a shared goal.”

Health education teacher Michelle Ifill-Roseau, who also helped guide the team, said the students’ adaptability made the difference.

“They were willing to listen, make changes and trust the process,” she said. “Those are lifelong skills — communication, research, collaboration. They’ll carry those into whatever they do next.”

A win years in the making

The victory marked White Plains’ first gold in the competition in a decade, a milestone that wasn’t lost on the team.

“It feels refreshing to have our school name out there again,” Karim said. “We’re proud to represent White Plains.”

Rocco Varuolo, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Library Services and Business Education for the WPCSD, expressed his profound admiration for the students, particularly their ability to present their project in such a tight window.

“It required a lot of effort to research, interview – including White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch – and put it together in just five minutes,” Mr. Varuolo said. “The topic was very heavy and they did a phenomenal job. It took a lot of work and coordination to achieve this – I am very impressed with all of them.”

Beyond the medal, the students earned laptops and a celebratory dinner with their families at the renowned Kanopi Restaurant atop the Ritz-Carlton tower, a fitting reward for weeks of late nights and intense preparation.

But for many, the biggest reward was something less tangible.

“That was honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever celebrated,” Amanda said. “It was such a weight off my shoulders, but also one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.”

And for Zarius, the experience confirmed something even bigger.

“This showed us that we can take on real problems — and come up with real solutions,” he said. “That’s something we’ll carry with us for a long time.”