It's never too early to become business savvy.

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts and Title Sponsor, Bristol County Savings Bank, hosted 13 local schools at UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday for the third annual Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge.

The Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge is a business strategy competition in which high schoolers compete against other schools in teams using an online, interactive business simulation game which provides students with essential business knowledge.

“We are excited to have five of the schools from the New Bedford area back to compete again in the Titan Business Challenge, and also Fairhaven High School, who will be participating for the first time,” said JA President Caroline Paradis. “If last year’s competition is any indication, each student will learn valuable business skills and lessons which will help them thrive in whatever educational and business path they choose to pursue in the future.”

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.  Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs to students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.

“The response we’ve gotten is beyond what we expected,” said Paradis. “It’s a really nice partnership between the business community, university, and non-profit.”

Approximately 200 students competed in this year’s challenge.

“This is really exciting,” said Dartmouth High School junior Paige DeCosta. “I feel confident.”

During the event, the students will compete for scholarships, while gaining insight into the world of business.  The first place team will receive $1,000 per member courtesy of Mansfield Bank, $750 for the second place team courtesy of South Coast Business Alliance, and $500 for the third place team courtesy of Webster Bank.  In addition to developing budgets and interpreting financial reports, students can expect to increase their knowledge of pricing, production, capital investment, R&D, marketing and charitable giving.

“The students are able to split into breakout seasons based on if they're the CEO, CFO, or Marketing Director in their team,” said JA Program Coordinator Elaine Meredith. “The university also provides a breakfast and lunch for the students.”

Breakout Session Leaders included CEO Jason Rua of Rua-Dumont-Audet Insurance Agency, CFO Dana Mohler-Faria of Bridgewater State University, and Marketing Directors Kelly Baldwin of St. Anne’s Credit Union and Leslie Poulin of First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union.

Meredith mentioned that there were also advisors for each team to help talk strategy and guide the students.  Over 30 mentors attended the event, including members from the Charlton School of Business.

To prepare for the competition, students have been practicing the game and learning key business concepts that they will need to use during the competition.  Teams will engage in three rounds of play as each team makes decisions under the guidance of a volunteer business mentor.

“It’d be cool if the program was different from year to year, but it isn’t,” said DHS sophomore Anthony Root. “I expect to win.”

DHS brought 21 students to the event.  Their mentors were David Medeiros of Bristol County Savings Bank, Andrew Guilbeault of Bank Five, and Bill Beauchene of Bank Five.

“This is a great experience for the kids,” said DHS Business teacher Richard White. “It’s a great event for them [students] to compete against neighboring schools, meet new people, and gain knowledge that will help them in the future.”

DHS Business teacher Steve Charest said that this event is really focuses on marketing, finance, and leadership.

“This experience will really help the students,” said Charest. “It is very well-organized.”

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, advised by Ryan Robidoux, brought one team to compete.  Their advisor was Eric Carlson of Rockland Trust.

“Our hopes are high,” said Old Colony senior Ethan Best.

Robidoux said the competition is usually quicker than expected.

“Working with the mentors is nice,” said Robidoux. “They [the mentors] are helpful for strategies and this is a really great event.  We look forward to it every year.”

“We are looking forward to supporting the more than 60 teams from thirteen high schools across Southeastern Massachusetts as they formulate their different strategies in this real world business simulation,” said Patrick J. Murray, Jr., President & CEO of Bristol County Savings Bank.

Durfee High School came in first place followed by Apponequet Regional and Dighton-Rehoboth Regional.