Student from Colorado State University’s College of Business is Semi-Finalist in National Business Plan Competition

Colorado State University vies for $22,500 in prizes at the third annual Enterprise Creation Competition on March 24-25 at Miami University’s Oxford, Ohio, campus.

Colorado State’s entry was created by John Currant, a senior majoring in entrepreneurship in the College of Business. His plan was for the creation of a non-profit organization called "Natural Wonders Continuing Education," dedicated to providing outdoor, educational experiences for elementary school teachers.

"This is very exciting for John and for the other students in our entrepreneurship program," said Anne McCarthy, associate professor of management and director of the Center for Entrepreneurial and Family Enterprise. "This is the first time we’ve entered this prestigious competition because our program is still new. John’s success in making the semi-finals is positive feedback for the other students, showing them that hard work and creativity can pay off."

Entrepreneurship is one of the fastest growing fields of study in business schools, with more than 750 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs nationwide.The business plan competition was launched jointly in 1998 by the Page Center of Entrepreneurship at Miami University and the Midwest Entrepreneurial Education Center at Ball State University to recognize entrepreneurship as a burgeoning area of interest.

The winner on March 25 will receive $8,500, the highest award of any intercollegiate undergraduate business plan competition in North America. The second-place winner will receive $4,500 and third-place winner will be awarded $2,000. Two $500 awards will be presented to the "Most Innovative Plan" and "Best Entrepreneurial Effort." Each of the non-placing teams will receive $1,000 for reaching the second round of the competition.

Nine semi-finalists have been chosen from a pool of more than 30 prominent business schools.

Contestants come from around the United States, Canada and even Sweden.

The first round of judging in the ECC was completed by a panel of judges from Ernst & Young’s entrepreneurial division. In addition to Colorado State’s entry, other semi-finalists include teams and individuals from the University of Arizona, Loyola Marymount University, University of Manitoba, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of North Dakota, San Diego State University, Westmont College and York University.

For more information, contact professor Anne McCarthy at (970) 491-6876. At Miami University, contact Jennifer Bailey at (513) 529-4221 or the Page Center for Entrepreneurship at (513) 529-1221.