NEW BEDFORD, MA — April 8, 2025 — Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts (JA) proudly celebrated the achievements of more than 230 students who participated in this year’s JA Titan Business Challenge at UMass Dartmouth. Thanks to the generous support of Title Sponsor Bristol County Savings Bank, the event provided an invaluable opportunity for high school students across southern Massachusetts to experience real-world business challenges.
Congratulations to the top teams:
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First Place: Apponequet Regional High School (Team 4)
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Second Place: B.M.C. Durfee High School (Team 9)
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Third Place: B.M.C. Durfee High School (Team 10)
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Final Round Honorees: Apponequet Regional High School (Team 5)
The top teams earned scholarships toward the college or university of their choice, with $1,000 scholarships awarded to first-place winners, $750 scholarships for second and third-place teams, and $500 scholarships for the final round honorees.
Winning Teams and Business Mentors
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First Place – Apponequet Regional High School, Team 4:
Judson Cardinali, Logan Frias, and Tyler Gray, mentored by Jared Methia of Milestone Mortgage Solutions. -
Second Place – B.M.C. Durfee High School, Team 9:
Skyla Pereira, Aliah Ramos, and Jaybee Rivera-Rosario, mentored by Bernard Janoske of Santander Bank. -
Third Place – B.M.C. Durfee High School, Team 10:
Layla Martinez, Savannah Raposo, and Alicia Warren, mentored by Sadaf Nord of Santander Bank. -
Final Round – Apponequet Regional High School, Team 5:
Jared Freitas, William Horton, and Jayden Pierre, mentored again by Jared Methia of Milestone Mortgage Solutions.
A Real-World Business Experience
Students competed in teams, navigating through a challenging business simulation that required them to make strategic decisions about pricing, marketing, production, and investment. Volunteer business mentors offered guidance throughout the competition, helping students apply essential business knowledge under real-world pressure.
Beyond the competition, students attended a leadership panel where local business professionals discussed strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The day-long experience helped students develop skills in budgeting, interpreting financial reports, capital investment, and corporate social responsibility.
To learn more about how Junior Achievement is empowering future leaders through experiences like this, visit Empowering Future Leaders – Celebrating the Success of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts Titan Business Challenge.
Participating High Schools
This year’s event welcomed teams from:
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Apponequet Regional High School
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Atlantis Charter High School
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B.M.C. Durfee High School
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Bishop Stang High School
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Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School
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Fairhaven High School
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Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School
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New Bedford High School
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Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School
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Taunton Alternative High School
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Taunton High School
Powered by Community Support
The Titan Business Challenge was made possible through the collaboration of Title Sponsor Bristol County Savings Bank, UMass Dartmouth, and many supporting partners including Acushnet Company, BankFive, BayCoast Bank, First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union, HarborOne Bank, Lapointe Insurance Agency, Milestone Mortgage Solutions, Rockland Trust, Santander Bank, SCBA, Raw Seafoods, Webster Bank, and Whaling City Tile & Closing.
Investing in the Future
“We are thrilled to see so many students stepping into leadership roles and applying business strategies with confidence,” said Jeffrey Pelletier, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts. “Thanks to the dedication of our sponsors, mentors, and partners, students had a transformative experience that will serve them well into the future.”
Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts remains committed to empowering young people by providing financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship education. In 2025, JA aims to impact nearly 7,000 students across 21 cities and towns in Bristol and Southern Plymouth Counties.
For more information, contact Jeffrey Pelletier at jeffrey.pelletier@ja.org or 508-997-6536.
