Baldwin High School Students Shine at the 2025 New York State and Northeast Leadership Conference

Baldwin High School’s two new Virtual Enterprise (VE) firms—CleanVista and Dorms Deluxe—proudly represented the Baldwin Union Free School District at the 2025 New York State (NYS) and Northeast (NE) Leadership Conference at Long Island University (LIU) Post.

Baldwin’s VE program is among a network of 15,000 students across the U.S. each year and is part of a global network that spans 40 countries and includes 7,500 student-run businesses through the non-profit organization, VE International. VE International transforms the classroom into a dynamic business environment, allowing participating schools to engage in a global economy, where companies buy and sell virtual products and services within a closed online network of over 7,000 student-run businesses worldwide.

Through the VE curriculum and under the guidance of a teacher, students create and oversee a simulated company by assuming different roles in various departments, including accounting/finance, human resources, sales/marketing, and IT.

In Baldwin, students, grades 11-12, can enroll in the course and take on leadership roles, such as CEO, as they establish ventures, develop marketing strategies, and engage in transactions with other simulated businesses. They dedicate their class time to creating and managing their simulated business, while participating in various competitions and tradeshows throughout the year. It is through these local, regional, and national events that the high schoolers can showcase their work and expertise to industry professionals, experience real-world competition, network with peers, and connect with college and business partners.

The curriculum for the VE course, which is part of the course sequence for the Global Business and Entrepreneurship Academy at Baldwin High School, focuses on developing real-world skills such as problem-solving, financial literacy, communication, and critical thinking, which prepare students for future college and career success.

New York State and Northeast Leadership Conference

During the conference, Baldwin High School students engaged in dynamic sessions designed to enhance leadership and entrepreneurial skills. This unique educational experience provided aspiring business leaders and future venture capitalists with valuable insights from an expert panel of Fortune 500 executives and motivational speakers. Students also collaborated with peers during interactive breakout workshops and networked with professionals and other student-run firms from across the region.

“I’m so proud of our students for their hard work and professionalism,” said business teacher Jason Rudish, who helps oversee the VE program as well as the Senior Experience course. “They gained real-world experience and showed what Baldwin students are capable of.”

A major highlight of the conference was the Elevator Pitch Competition, during which students presented their business pitches before a panel of judges, faculty deans, and fellow entrepreneurs. Baldwin’s CleanVista advanced to the final round after delivering an exceptional performance and presentation.

Overall, the experience deepened students’ understanding of the Virtual Enterprise program, the challenges of managing a business, and the leadership skills required to build and sustain a successful company.

Next up for Baldwin’s VE firms is the New York State VE Regional Business Plan Competition and Trade Show in January.

About Baldwin High School’s New Virtual Enterprises

CleanVista

CleanVista offers trusted, customizable cleaning solutions designed to simplify life with personalized care, spotless results, and complete peace of mind. They go beyond cleaning — they create comfort and confidence in every home. Their flexible plans allow customers to choose the services, schedule, and level of care that fit their lifestyle. With eco-friendly products, reliable professionals, and transparent communication, CleanVista ensures a safe, seamless, and satisfying experience every time. Because at CleanVista, they believe a clean home isn’t just seen — it’s felt.

Founded in 2025 at Baldwin High School through the Virtual Enterprise program, the company was created by a team of students who wanted to make cleaning simpler, more reliable, and more personal. They recognized that many busy families and professionals struggled to find cleaning services they could truly trust—ones that understood their individual needs and schedules. Inspired to find a better way, they built CleanVista around the idea of combining trusted service with customized care. What began as a classroom idea has grown into a company dedicated to setting a new benchmark for excellence in cleaning and customer care.

Dorms Deluxe

Dorms Deluxe is a college move-in, move-out, and storage service designed to simplify every aspect of the student housing experience. The company provides students and parents with a fully customizable, stress-free solution that covers everything from professional packing, transportation, and personalized dorm room setup to secure summer storage. Their dedicated team ensures every detail is handled with care, creating a seamless and efficient process from start to finish. With Dorms Deluxe, students can focus on enjoying college life while parents gain peace of mind knowing their student’s move and storage needs are in trusted hands.

Founded in September of 2025, Dorms Deluxe’s overall vision is to be the leading provider of seamless dorm solutions, transforming college living into a convenient and comfortable experience for all students. The company's mission is to simplify the collegiate dorm process to improve convenience for students and their families. The traditional dorming and housing process can be excessively expensive and time-consuming for college students and parents, who may spend hours and thousands of dollars on dorm necessities. Dorms Deluxe capitalizes on this by making the process simple, easy, and affordable for students and parents to acquire everything needed for the ideal dorm room.