Feb. 27, 2008
Bismarck, ND -- Freshman Jack Glasser of Bismarck won top honors for both his business plans and his presentation yesterday at U-Mary's seventh annual Entrepreneurship Fair. He received high praise from the panel of distinguished judges for his photography business, Glasser Images, as well as input on furthering his ideas at the annual event.
Other 2008 winners were:
Rebekah Jarvey, '09, Bismarck, for Woman Who Carries Sweetgrass Trading Post (Native American arts and crafts), second
Stephanie Sandstrom, '08, Minot, ND, for NRG In Action LLC (High School leadership and development training group), third
Brent Ritter, '02, (M.Ed. student, Mound City, SD), Devon Sabrosky, '08, Killdeer, ND, Brianna Perry, '11, Great Falls, MT, for his bar and restaurant evening specials Web site service
Each year, U-Mary's E-Fair provides a select group of U-Mary business students with a unique opportunity to get invaluable feedback on their entrepreneurial ventures from a panel of distinguished area business leaders -- and compete for cash prizes to take their ideas to the next level. Students in the business track of the nationally recognized Harold Schafer Emerging Leaders Academy present their individual and team projects for evaluation and critique. The top entry is awarded a cash prize of $2,000 and a crystal trophy inscribed with the name of North Dakota business legend Harold Schafer, the inspiration for the academy and U-Mary's entrepreneurship programs. All participants will get specific, real-world input to assist them in getting their business plans off the ground, as well as experience in presenting their ideas to business professionals.
"E-Fair is exciting, intense, and instructive," says Nicole Morrison-Mathern, director of the Harold Schafer Emerging Leaders Academy in Business. "It has an 'Apprentice'/'American Idol' flavor, but puts a premium on being constructive and supportive. The judges really want to help the participants succeed, many times taking them under their wing in a mentorship role after the competition.
"Students who take part in the E-Fair get guidance and advice from professionals in the business world on how to encourage and grow their entrepreneurial abilities. Without the support of the ELA and its partners in the business community, these entrepreneurial ventures might not go beyond being great ideas."
In past years, E-Fair champions have gone on to patent their products in preparation for bigger and better things, and Tony Wood, '07, McCall, ID, who took top honors in the last E-Fair with his High Mountain Custom Molding, is pursuing his M.B.A. and manages the Tharaldson School of Business I.D.E.A. (Incubator for Developing Entrepreneurial Activity) Center. E-Fair participants are encouraged to compete in other state, regional, and national competitions.
This year's 1st and 2nd place winners, Jack Glasser and Rebekah Jarvey, also took 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the university's November 2007 Idea Fair. "It's all part of U-Mary's effort to provide its students with the skills, tools, experience, and network they need to be entrepreneurs in the best -- and most successful -- sense of the word," says Morrison-Mathern.
2008 Judges
Dwight Hinkel, Applied Engineering
Niles Huschka, Kadrmas Lee & Jackson
Tara Holt, The Center for Technology & Business
Brad Scott, Scott Financial Corp.
Jerry Splonskowski, Northwest Contracting
Matt Stucke, alum and past E-Fair winner, Edward Jones
Chris Tietz, Sherlock Homes
Dewey Tietz, CrossCountry Courier
