Left to Right: Vandit Bhatia, Enzo Primiano, Emma Pisarchik, Kaya Desai and Ben Lipsky at the New Jersey Consumer Bowl. Team member Dillon Gannon is not pictured. 

 

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is building on its already strong and growing business programs by offering a new Raider Business Academy for students interested in business, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, management and more. 

The academy will formally offer students greater flexibility, specialized pathways, dual-enrollment opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences designed to prepare them for college and future careers. 

“We have been ahead of most schools in our region in terms of the number and quality of business courses we offer at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School,” said Dr. Warren Hynes, principal of SPFHS. “The Raider Business Academy gives students more opportunities and choices as they explore their interests and future college and career goals.” 

Launching in the 2026-2027 school year, students will start with introductory Consumer Finance, Business Technology, and Management courses in ninth grade. They will then take courses in three pathways (Marketing, Finance, or Management) or mix and match courses based on their interests. Courses range from Entrepreneurship to Accounting to Business in a Global Society – all developed in response to growing student interest in business careers. 

“We often find that students' interests change over time,” said Business Education Instructor and DECA Advisor Marjorie FitzGibbon. “We want them to have choices and flexibility as they explore different pathways and choose from dual enrollment course options.” 

Through partnerships with Fairleigh Dickinson University and University of Delaware, students will continue to earn college credits while still in high school. They also can take the College Board’s new AP Business with Personal Finance course, making SPFHS one of the first schools to offer the program in the 2026-2027 school year. 

“Business is one of the top majors our students pursue after high school,” FitzGibbon said. “Giving them this exposure now puts them ahead and helps them better understand the different career paths available to them.” 

The academy will also emphasize experiential learning through DECA competitions, guest speakers, presentations and student-led projects focused on teaching the fundamentals of business and decision-making.  

Junior Jane Fisher, co-president of the SPF chapter of DECA, said the business offerings so far have helped shape her interest in pursuing a career in investment banking or financial law. 

“I’ve always loved math, and finance is the mathematical side of business,” Fisher said. “Through DECA and our classes, we’ve been exposed to real-world scenarios and case studies that helped strengthen my interest in business.” 

 

State and National Competitions 

The growth of SPFH’s business program has already translated into strong student achievement at the state and national levels. 

This year, 15 students qualified to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference, held in Atlanta in April. More than 10,000 students from across the United States and Canada participated in the international competition. 

Students also participated in the Consumer Bowl, sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs. SPFHS won the 2026 Union County competition and represented the high school and Union County at the regional tournament in April.  

Scotch Plains-Fanwood was represented by sophomores, Ben Lipsky, Vandit Bhatia, Emma Pisarchik, Kaya Desai, Dillon Gannon and captain, Enzo Primiano.   

 

Commitment to Preparing Students 

Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast, who supervises the Business Department, said the Raider Business Academy reflects the district’s commitment to preparing students for a changing global economy and for giving them meaningful hands-on opportunities to explore their interests. 

“Programs like the Raider Business Academy help ensure our students graduate with both academic knowledge and practical skills that prepare them for success in college, careers and life,” Mast said. 

The high school also recently launched a National Business Honor Society chapter and continues to expand certification opportunities for students. Twenty-six business students qualified to earn certification from the American Marketing Association, which allows students who earn 70 percent or higher on the DECA state or national level exam to receive this certification.       

Junior Leah Soifer, co-president of DECA, said she wants to major in business in college and feels that SPFHS is providing a strong foundation for that success. 

“I’m being exposed to college-level classes throughout my high school journey,” she explained.  

FitzGibbon said this truly is a unique offering for SPFHS students. 

“We’re giving students the chance to challenge themselves academically, earn college credits, gain real-world experience and discover where their passions may lead them,” FitzGibbon said.