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Brianne Lunzmann, Hill & Knowlton, 949-223-2314 or brianne.lunzmann@hillandknowlton.com
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Team Wins Top Prize; Stanford, Texas A&M and Chapman University Teams also Recognized
Washington, D.C. (March 15, 2007) — Six students from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, S.D., won top honors in the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Challenge - a national contest challenging students to take a common everyday object and create as much value as possible. More than 200 submissions from students across the country entered the contest that required participants to stretch their entrepreneurial muscle and create a unique, valuable service or product made with Post-it® Notes. The student teams had only one week to come up with their ideas and presentations.
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology students' winning idea is Carbon Post-it Notes. Much like carbon-copy paper, the Carbon Post-it Note would eliminate the need for pen or pencil. The entry video submitted to the contest Web site demonstrates that it only takes a coin, pair of glasses, a finger or even the tip of a shoelace to write on the Carbon Post-it Note.
Other winners in the national contest include teams from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Chapman University, Orange, Calif.; and, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.
The Challenge & EntrepreneurshipWeek USA
The Challenge contest was part of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, which ran from Feb. 24 through March 3, 2007 and was sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, The New York Times and Inc. magazine.
"Student entrepreneurs from virtually every discipline on campus participated in The Challenge and EntrepreneurshipWeek USA," said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. "You don't have to be a business major to think, dream and create like an entrepreneur."
Students were told to create a big idea based on the use of Post-it Notes. Teams entered their big ideas to The Challenge by uploading digital slides or a three-minute video to the contest Web site. Teams were judged on the value they created and defined in the short period of time. The winning entries can be viewed via the following links or by visiting entrepreneurshipweekusa.com:
Overall winner: "Carbon Post-it Notes"
- South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
- Students: Lance Hildebrandt, Caleb Skjervem, Karmen Powell, Mark Wager, Akash Adhikari and Colin Nelson
- View a PowerPoint about this entry >
Most money generated, degree of entertainment, and degree of risk taken: "Wrap It Up" self-adhesive wrapping paper
Most social value generated: "How a Post-it Can Save the Planet"
Most creative: "Collaborative Music Competition"
About EntrepreneurshipWeek USA
More than 1,300 partners and sponsors engaged in EntrepreneurshipWeek USA events throughout the country. With the theme," What's Your Big Idea? Take it On!," the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA initiative was designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to turn their ideas into action - whether that meant starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that makes society better. For more information on EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, please visit: www.EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA.com.
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