Zachary Addkison, a senior at TMI Episcopal, was selected to participate in a National Student Leadership Conference in Business and Entrepreneurship, held July 20-28 at Fordham University in New York City.

Addkison and his team won first place in competition against 85 other students, who took part in a sports-agency simulation, learning about aspects of the business such as social media, contract negotiations, sponsorships and public relations.

The purpose of the weeklong program is give high-school students a realistic experience of what it’s like to start, manage and build a company, from idea to financing to launch. By the end of the program, participants understand how to turn an idea into a business plan and how to secure investors.

Since 1989, the National Student Leadership Conference has hosted career-focused summer leadership conferences for select high-school students During the programs, students live in college dorms and attend NSLC-hosted lectures and activities on campus, meeting with leaders in the profession, academic experts and peers interested in the same field. Each program helps students explore a profession while developing their own leadership potential.