March 1, 2023—It was like “Survivor,” only with Toms River Regional Schools students playing the role of cast, crew, and production.

At High School South today, the “Tribal Council” judged its top ten finalists. The event was inspired by the Shark Tank-style competition the school hosted last year, and pitted Business Academy seniors against each other. The challenge? Presenting their capstone business projects to peers and judges. And not just any judges—members of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce, who know a thing or two about business pitches.

The event was live streamed by TRSTV, thanks to a dedicated crew of broadcast journalism and TV production students from High School East.

The winner of the Tribal Council Finals was Trevor Kalb. Paige Seitz was named runner-up, and Mateo Guarin finished third.

Beyond the winners, every student involved received a wealth of real-world experience, getting a head start on their career aspirations thanks to the opportunities provided by their schools and the district's Perkins-funded CTE initiatives.

Watch the student presentations and awards ceremony below, and congrats to the participants and winners!