November 21, 2008

Purdue Research Park announces dates, nomination information for entrepreneurship program

Timothy Peoples
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The 2009 academy, which will take place June 21-26 on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus, allows students to participate in entrepreneurship-based opportunities and gain real-world business experiences. Indiana teachers, principals and other educators are asked to nominate students who excel in the areas of math, science and technology. Awards for winning team members include college tuition vouchers to help them further develop their entrepreneurial spirit and pursue a degree in higher education. All Purdue University campuses and some Ivy Tech Community College campuses accept the vouchers.

A new requirement in this year's acceptance process is a 250-word essay from the nominated students. The essay should include ideas and goals of what nominees hope to gain from the weeklong event and can include topics concerning technology, education and entrepreneurship.

"Many students who participated in the past wrote essays about their experiences after the event because they wanted to share what they had learned," said Timothy Peoples, director of the Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy and director of the Purdue Technology Centers of West Lafayette. "We've been impressed by the quality of the written responses. We added the essay requirement to the program for those who want to write something after the event so they can compare their ideas and goals with what they actually experienced. It's part of the learning process."

During the program, students will work with Purdue Research Foundation staff, Purdue faculty, industry leaders, business experts and successful high-tech entrepreneurs.

Participating students will work in teams of five. Teams will:

* Analyze a business case study.

* Test the concept's feasibility.

* Determine the best way to make the business competitive in the market.

* Identify capital needs to start the business.

* Devise a plan to successfully manage the business.

Students will be provided with business case studies, instruction and necessary materials to assist them in the successful completion of the program.

The weeklong academy is based on an entrepreneurship program called "So what? Who cares? Why you?" by Wendy Kennedy. Kennedy is a technology curriculum industry executive and former professor who has written on the subject of commercializing innovative ideas. Her program has been adopted across North America by numerous entrepreneurship and educational organizations. More information about the program is available online at https://www.wendykennedy.com.

The 2008 Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy winners were:

* First place, Biofuel Efficiency Technology: Alex Curtis, Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis; Ashley Deutsch, West Lafayette High School, West Lafayette; Zyon Rennewanz, Logansport High School, Logansport; Allison Weilbaker, Harrison High School, West Lafayette; mentored by David Shelby of ICx Griffin Analytical.

* Second place, AgRight: Madison Donoho, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; Viraj Maniar, Munster High School, Munster; Miranda McCormack, Benton Central High School, Fowler; Blake Vermillion, Greencastle High School, Greencastle; William Zhao, Kokomo High School, Kokomo; mentored by Mike Cassidy of Fortress Strategy Group.

* Third place, Prestige World Wide: Tyler Anderson, Harrison High School, West Lafayette; Benjamin Baugh, Frankfort High School, Frankfort; Princessa Rennewanz, Logansport High School, Logansport; Ashley Snyder, Wabash High School, Wabash; Matthew Williams, Taylor High School, Kokomo; mentored by Gina Sheets of the Clinton County Economic Development and Jack MacOwen of Tecumseh Area Partnership, Inc.

To nominate a student, visit the Entrepreneurship Academy Web site at https://www.purdueresearchpark.com/academy/index.asp. For more information, contact Timothy Peoples at (765) 494-6630, trpeoples@prf.org.

About Purdue Research Park

The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 157 companies. About 100 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park is owned and managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received three excellence in economic development awards from the International Economic Development Council in the categories of Entrepreneurship, Partnerships with Educational Institutions and Technology-Based Economic Development. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university-affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com

Purdue Research Foundation marketing and communication contact:
Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192 (office), (765) 413-6031 (mobile), casequin@prf.org

Source: Timothy Peoples, (765) 494-6630, trpeoples@prf.org