Local band of Lemoore High School whiz kids take top honors in online virtual challenge

And thanks to the team’s win, a local United Way chapter will get a $500 check courtesy of Deloitte.

What is the Deloitte Virtual Team Challenge, and just who, or what is Deloitte?

Well, for starters Deloitte is an international organization of tens of thousands of professionals in independent firms throughout the world who provide audit and assurance, consulting, risk and financial advisory, risk management, tax, and related services.

“Every year they (Deloitte) sponsor a nation-wide virtual team challenge where four students compete on a team to make decisions involving business, environment, ethics, and negotiation,” said Scott Buller, the group’s teacher.

The team of Tigers – 14 LHS teams participated – took first place in the national competition among hundreds of groups. In fact, Lemoore had four teams in the top 15.  

The annual Team Challenge is a 3D online game that gives high school students a taste of conducting business as an employee of a fictional professional services organization. Each participant fulfilled one of several roles on a team and competed against other teams across the United States.

The students also raise virtual money to support their efforts. The team that raises the most money wins the competition.

Lemoore’s students, members of the school’s Intro to Business Class – a dual-enrollment partnership program with West Hills College – participated in the three weeks long online game-like simulation where they took on the virtual role of project managers on a major oil spill.

Currently, students are also participating in a stock market simulation where they were given $100,000 to invest. 

The Deloitte Virtual Challenge required the four students: Riley Jacobs, Carlos Medina, Michael Ashford, and Isaiah Johnston to use their business knowledge, interviewing sub-contractors who were best qualified for various jobs. 

A team consisting of Josue Alvizo, Evan Berna, Jacob Chieze, and Paige Clarke took fourth-place honors.

They had to research companies, understand the criteria for success, interview candidates, and negotiate the best price for all the jobs.  Based on their decision making, students made a profit margin on each transaction throughout the simulation. 

The Challenge tested their business knowledge and ethics throughout the simulation. 

"What I appreciate most about this type of learning is that students had to learn and practice real-world business skills such as communication, critical thinking, and creativity to succeed,” said Buller.

The national champion team members called themselves the 7-Shark Tank and raised $218,680 during the virtual competition. The Lemoore team edged second-place finisher Siegel High School, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The fourth-place Lemoore team called themselves the 2-Monsters, and it raised $210,940.