For Immediate Release
Contact: Emily King
Phone: 603.817.5621.
Email: ecking@unh.edu
Students to Reveal Big Ideas during EntrepreneurshipWeek NH
All New Hampshire College Students Encouraged to Participate
January 30 th, 2007—“Think. Create. Innovate.” New Hampshire College students are being urged to adopt this theme and pursue their entrepreneurial “Big Ideas” for EntrepreneurshipWeek USA (The Week), a nationwide effort to transform today’s youth into tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. During The Week, February 24th through March 3rd, educational systems, organizations, and individuals nationwide will host numerous events that will provide opportunities for students to learn about entrepreneurship’s importance, and develop and showcase their ideas.
A series of EntrepreneurshipWeek New Hampshire events are planned that align with national efforts and capture the State’s “Think. Create. Innovate.” theme. These events will encourage the participation of the general public, students, teachers, businesses, government, and non-profit organizations. Each day is devoted to a specific subject and includes Higher Education Day, K-12 Entrepreneurial Education Day, Entrepreneurial Landscape Day, Business Development and Funding Day, and EntrepreneurshipDay New Hampshire.
“Here in New Hampshire, we celebrate and foster innovation in our economy,” said New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. “Entrepreneurship Week is a good way for our state to showcase the excellent work taking place in our communities and encourage our citizens to turn their ideas into solid business plans.”
On Monday February 26th, Higher Education Day, New Hampshire college students will have an opportunity to display their “Big Ideas” at a Forum on the Future breakfast at CR Sparks in Bedford, NH. New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Leonhardt, will help kick off The Week at this event by discussing how our economy can best be set up to spur innovation and entrepreneurship. This entrepreneurial breakfast will ultimately inspire attendees, which include individuals from higher education, businesses, and policy leaders, to instill and maintain an entrepreneurial spirit in New Hampshire students.
Friday March 2nd, EntrepreneurshipDay New Hampshire, is devoted to celebrating an entrepreneurial way of thinking, student entrepreneurs, and New Hampshire as an entrepreneurial state. Events planned this day include New Hampshire’s Big Idea Exhibit and Feasting on Feedback. At New Hampshire’s Big Idea Exhibit, students will display their projects to peers, faculty, the general public, and media. Held at the Wayfarer Convention Center, the exhibition will feature a keynote speaker, and a video produced by Keene State College students that will capture each event taken place during this first-ever EntrepreneurshipWeek New Hampshire. Following New Hampshire’s Big Idea Exhibit, students will have the opportunity to participate in the Feasting on Feedback luncheon. This formal luncheon will provide an opportunity for students to receive significant feedback from potential investors and seasoned entrepreneurs regarding their entrepreneurial ideas.
New Hampshire ’s “Think. Create. Innovate.” theme was developed by a team of senior University of New Hampshire business students participating in a marketing workshop class. Sponsored by the New York Times and University System of New Hampshire, the USNH Entrepreneurial Contest was created by these students last fall, to promote The Week in New Hampshire. About 40 student teams displayed their entrepreneurial ideas at the contest. Many of these will be showcased prior to and during The Week, along with additional projects from students of all ages. Participating students are being urged to develop ideas that may potentially impact the economy, environment, education or society.
“The USNH Entrepreneurial Contest was a crucial stepping stone in our project’s development process,” said member of the winning team Josh Francis. “I definitely encourage all students to think about participating in Entrepreneurship Week. You never know what doors it may open up.”
EntrepreneurshipWeek USA , sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation and the New York Times among others, is a weeklong effort to celebrate the power of entrepreneurship and ignitethe nation 's consciousness around the importance of being entrepreneurial. Over 800 partners nationwide are planning events to stimulate an on-going interest from individuals and organizations serving as an educational kick-start for the uninitiated, and an inspiration for young people to begin a journey to fulfill their potential as self-starters and entrepreneurs. With the New York Times as New Hampshire’s foremost sponsor, the events and student projects will be featured on the educational portion of the New York Times website.
"USNH is a pilot partner with the New York Times as part of their efforts to instill and expand entrepreneurship across our campuses, and we are very appreciative of their assistance," said Matt Cookson, associate vice chancellor of external relations at USNH. "Over the past six months, they have helped stimulate some new ideas and have lent their support to several projects, many of which will be showcased during Entrepreneurship Week."
For more information on EntrepreneurshipWeek New Hampshire, ways to get involved, or for interested students, contact Emily King at ecking@unh.edu. Students may also enter their “Big Idea” at http://takeiton.wufoo.com/forms/new-hampshire-eweek-students-big-ideas/. Student project guidelines may be found at www.myspace.com/takeiton, along with the USNH Entrepreneurial Contest promotional material and photos.
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