Date: Jun 26, 2007

Hofstra University's Zarb School of Business and Commerce Bank's "Camp Business" Gives High School Students A Real Life Glimpse into the Business World

New York Program Receives Record Number of Applications

Melville, N.Y. – New York’s future business leaders will have the opportunity to uncover the world of business at “Camp Business – A Competitive and Fun Introduction to Business,” a free, two-week, hands-on summer business camp.  The unique camp offers top high school students a realistic glimpse at business and helps them develop their entrepreneurial skills. The program is sponsored by Commerce Bank and Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business.

For two weeks, Camp Business students will participate in various interactive courses taught and developed by faculty at Hofstra University and instructors at Commerce University, Commerce Bank’s corporate training center. The curriculum is designed to spark creativity, develop decision making and leadership abilities, and reinforce that business can be fun, engaging and competitive. Through the ‘real’ world experience, students also learn skills not taught in the classroom. Student teams illustrate what they have learned in a final business presentation to a panel of executives.

Curriculum highlights include:
•    Tuesday, August 7, 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
C.V. Star Hall

Team Building: Great Outdoor Adventure– Teamwork is hard work and students will experience the true definition of teamwork by taking part in an exciting ropes course. Students will learn that becoming part of a team means understanding your role and knowing how you can encourage others to succeed by letting go of “me first” approaches to success.

•    Wednesday, August 8, 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.
C.V. Star Hall

Product Development: The Hero Drill- Students become local inventors when they roll up their sleeves and create “new” sandwich products and market them to a specific demographic group.

•    Friday, August 10, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
C.V. Star Hall
Communicating Your Professional Image
Friday, August 10, 1:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
C.V. Star Hall

Business Etiquette
The young entrepreneurs will discard their typical attire and don proper suits and ties as they practice their presentation skills and learn the importance of professionalism in speech and dress. Etiquette class focuses on the need for proper dining etiquette and networking.

•    Tuesday, August 14, 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon.
C.V. Star Hall

       What You Need to Know (But They Never Tell You) About Managing
Students learn unique, never talked about, management tools such as the importance of the "heads up" management practice. They will understand the role of food in building a successful team and gain insight in the human dynamics of managing people that goes beyond textbook theory.

Camp Business will be held from August 6 - 16, 2007 with 50 students in the session. High school students were selected on the basis of academic performance, their interest in business, an essay and reference letters. The selected students are high school sophomores going into their junior year, or juniors becoming seniors.

About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank, “America’s Most Convenient Bank,” is a leading retailer of financial services with 400+ convenient stores in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland and Florida. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., Commerce Bancorp (NYSE: CBH) has $47.4 billion in assets and in first quarter 2007 achieved a 19% increase in core deposits, an 18% increase in net loans and total asset growth of 16%.  For more information about Commerce, please visit the company’s interactive financial resource center at commerceonline.com, or call 888-751-9000.

About Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students find their edge to succeed in more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.