DeWitt Clinton High School in Bedford Park hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its brand new business center last Thursday.

The new Cantor Business Center, located in a section of the school’s library, is named after late alumni Gerald B. Cantor, founder of notable financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald. His philanthropic group, the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, funded construction of the project.

Modeled after a real boardroom, the site features an interactive Smart Board, computers, scanners, a conference table and a collection of the library’s business books. Students who opt to take the school’s business electives can use the space—which includes private workrooms set off by glass windows—to collaborate on projects, practice mock interviews and give presentations.

“I was a business major in college, so I wish we had something like this when I was here,” said Alumni Association president Duane Burrell, a graduate from the class of 1982 whose two sons also attended the school.

Construction took a year to complete, with the school’s custodians volunteering their time to convert a former storage space into the new center.

“What we’re really trying to do with the center is take the classroom to the next step — the boardroom,” said teacher Vincent DiGaetano.

Clinton, which houses about 4,000 students, has smaller “learning communities” where students can take electives in specific topics like health careers and business enterprise.

The school’s business students have made a name for themselves by scoring wins in the city’s Virtual Enterprise program—where students hold virtual jobs and simulate all aspects of running a business—and for getting paid internships at big name companies like Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan.

“I appreciate the work of the alumni and virtual enterprise for starting such a beautiful program that empowers us, the future CEOs,” said Clinton senior Julian Addy at the center’s opening.

The school is known for its successful alumni. In addition to B. Gerald Cantor, other former attendees include Ralph Lauren, writer James Baldwin and actor Tracy Morgan.