02/15/17
北亚当斯，马萨诸塞州. — Student finalists from Massachusetts College of Liberal 艺术s
(MCLA) will pitch their original and inventive ideas to area business leaders on Wednesday,
April 19; at the culmination of the College’s first-ever 创新 and Entrepreneurship
Challenge, a new competition that aims to match entrepreneurial students with resources
and networking opportunities that will help them bring their ideas to fruition.
这场比赛将在下午五点半举行.m. MCLA的费根鲍姆科学中心 and 创新, room 121, is free and open to the public. 这是由于 Feigenbaum Fund, and Jack and Susy Wadsworth.
The finalists – as many as six groups of students – will be selected from about two dozen teams slated to participate in the Challenge.
“This competition provides a unique opportunity for students to work as teams, solve problems – both commercial and social – with mentors, provide benefits to our community, and reinforce the qualities and aims of MCLA’s liberal arts mission,” said Jake Eberwein, MCLA’s dean of Graduate and 继续教育. “我们感谢我们的资助者， mentors, faculty and students who are actively engaging in this exciting endeavor.”
In addition to a $10,000 prize and a funded, 10-week internship, winning students will receive advising and space to continue the development of their proposed idea 来自当地的孵化器Lever, Inc., a center for entrepreneurship and social innovation 总部设在北亚当斯.
Participants in the 创新 and 创业的挑战 will be coached through a series of deliverables, including an idea abstract, a pitch deck, a business model canvas and a business plan, before they pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
Their ideas include a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, 艺术 and Math) Center in downtown North Adams for students in pre-K-12, parents and administrators; augmented reality and virtual reality educational technology; an aquatic Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking system for fishing equipment; and other proposals related to 粮食、农业和社会服务.
Participating students will be invited to attend workshops on topics related to innovation and entrepreneurship, and to meet experienced investors, entrepreneurs and leaders of local community organizations in mentorship-style gatherings. 这些事件服务于 to connect students to the people best equipped to help them succeed.
本次比赛的评委包括J.D. Chesloff, Nancy Fitzpatrick and Jack Wadsworth.
Chesloff, a member of MCLA’s 校董会, is the executive director of the Massachusetts 商业圆桌会议. He serves on the executive committee of the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and 数学 (STEM) Advisory Council; and as board chair of the Massachusetts Department of Early 教育 and Care.
For the last 15 years, Fitzpatrick has overseen a hospitality business that includes The Red Lion, Jack’s Grill, Elm Street Market, and the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA. 她 also is vice chairman of The Fitzpatrick Companies.
Wadsworth received an honorary Doctor of Business degree from MCLA in 2015. 他是 honorary chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, an advisory director of Morgan Stanley, 也是Lever的创始董事.
欲了解更多信息，请访问www.pagesofexhibitions.net/mybigidea or contact MCLA LEADS Project Coordinator Zachary Feury, (413) 662-5116 or Zachary.Feury@pagesofexhibitions.net.
Massachusetts College of Liberal 艺术s (MCLA) is the Commonwealth’s public liberal arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. MCLA促进 excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. MCLA毕业生 are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.
欲了解更多信息，请访问http://www.pagesofexhibitions.net/ .
