Rizco-Coordinated Event Allows Academy Students to Learn About the Power of Print, the Communications Industry, and Possible Future Careers
Eighteen students from the Wall Business & Finance Academy (WBFA) were hosted by Hatteras, a leading printer located in Tinton Falls, NJ. Hatteras has provided cutting-edge printing capabilities in New Jersey and New York since 1983; they are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Their deep roots in the community have made them a go-to for businesses looking for expert printed materials and shifted their business during COVID to be a leader in sanitary face shields for local businesses. Introducing the students of the WBFA to their facilities, processes, and educating them further on the impact that printers have on printed goods, the environment, and business leaders across various industries, is a critical life lesson in business and an initiative that is especially important to Hatteras President and Wall resident, Bill Duerr.
The Director of the Academy, Lindsay Mossa, states, “Shadowing experiences play a huge role in exposing Wall Business & Finance Academy’s students to real-life experiences and future job opportunities. This has been difficult over the past two years due to COVID, and now that the doors have reopened, we can’t thank the Hatteras team enough for dedicating a day to educating our students on the printing industry.”
Debra Rizzi, event coordinator, President of Rizco, and WBFA Advisory board member, and Rizco Junior Designer Eliana Harrison also attended the event, while showcasing how designers and printers work closely on communication tools while inspiring Wall’s next-gen business leaders as they took a tour through Hatteras’ state-of-the-art facility.
Debra Rizzi stated, “Think about your favorite magazine, notebook, college promotional material, billboard, or the packaging that your favorite shoes or earbuds come in. It is an experience – all of which start with the collaboration of a design, printing, and distribution team. We are proud to connect the dots for students, so they not only see where products are made, but how small decisions in regards to paper and resources make a huge impact on the environment and how many jobs are touched by the power of print.”
Since 2009, the WBFA has been helping to prepare the students of Wall High School for life after high school. The WBFA is one of three academies that are ancillary to the Wall High School Curriculum. Applications are accepted from rising freshmen and sophomores each spring, and once accepted, students tailor their elective choices to focus on business and finance. In addition, they must complete twenty credits of mandatory business courses, attend mandatory sessions on building their brand and proper social media usage, resume-building, LinkedIn profile development and training, in-person interviewing skills, and successfully complete a paid internship between the summer of their junior and senior years.
The WBFA hosts events and forums regularly to help integrate students into the business world, giving them access to unique opportunities before they have even graduated from high school. Following a detailed tour of the printing press, the students enjoyed a lunch and Q&A forum with Hatteras’ President, Bill Duerr. They posed questions about printing, design, and general inquiries about business relationships. This was an exciting opportunity for the students and the Hatteras team!
For more information, visit wallpublicschools.org/Page/417 (under “Academies”).
