2008 Woodie Awards
Students prepare to 'Make a Pitch'
By: Mike Wayland
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
One student will walk away with $500 Thursday night.
Students can compete for that prize by giving a five-minute presentation at LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center's "Make a Pitch" competition.
For the past three years, LEC sponsored at least two "Make a Pitch" contests each semester.
Thursday's "Make a Pitch" will take place at 5 p.m. in Grawn 100.
"What we want to do is spread entrepreneurial thinking all over campus - not just in business," said Jim Damitio, judge, accounting professor and director of LEC.
The contest is about bringing ideas together and is open to all CMU students, he said.
To apply, students must submit a one-page outline of their pitch, which should help people, make money or solve real problems.
Once pitches are submitted, the LEC "Make a Pitch" board chooses the top 20 applicants to each give a five-minute presentation.
The top three pitches are awarded certificates for participation - however only first place is awarded $500.
Charles Fitzpatrick, director of LEC, said this semester 20 pitches were submitted from more than 10 different majors including biology, sports studies and English.
Fitzpatrick said most pitches are new products, but can be anything, such as a new or improved service or a unique business concept.
For the first time, Fitzpatrick will not be a judge, because his daughter is one of the participants in this competition.
The judges vary each competition depending on their availability, Damitio said.
At the first competition this semester, eight students submitted pitches ranging from a black finance television network to a youth center for after school and summer.
St. Clair Shores senior Debralee De Four won the last competition with her "Poopy Potty" - an idea for an attachment on a leash with compartments and tools for easier clean up and storage of animal droppings.
Damitio said De Four is working on a patent for her idea.
All the past winners have had one thing in common - their passion for their project, Damitio said.
The deadline for each competition is a week before the competition and the next "Make a Pitch" has not been scheduled yet. Fitzpatrick said he thinks it will be sometime in February.
news@cm-life.com
Students can compete for that prize by giving a five-minute presentation at LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center's "Make a Pitch" competition.
For the past three years, LEC sponsored at least two "Make a Pitch" contests each semester.
Thursday's "Make a Pitch" will take place at 5 p.m. in Grawn 100.
"What we want to do is spread entrepreneurial thinking all over campus - not just in business," said Jim Damitio, judge, accounting professor and director of LEC.
The contest is about bringing ideas together and is open to all CMU students, he said.
To apply, students must submit a one-page outline of their pitch, which should help people, make money or solve real problems.
Once pitches are submitted, the LEC "Make a Pitch" board chooses the top 20 applicants to each give a five-minute presentation.
The top three pitches are awarded certificates for participation - however only first place is awarded $500.
Charles Fitzpatrick, director of LEC, said this semester 20 pitches were submitted from more than 10 different majors including biology, sports studies and English.
Fitzpatrick said most pitches are new products, but can be anything, such as a new or improved service or a unique business concept.
For the first time, Fitzpatrick will not be a judge, because his daughter is one of the participants in this competition.
The judges vary each competition depending on their availability, Damitio said.
At the first competition this semester, eight students submitted pitches ranging from a black finance television network to a youth center for after school and summer.
St. Clair Shores senior Debralee De Four won the last competition with her "Poopy Potty" - an idea for an attachment on a leash with compartments and tools for easier clean up and storage of animal droppings.
Damitio said De Four is working on a patent for her idea.
All the past winners have had one thing in common - their passion for their project, Damitio said.
The deadline for each competition is a week before the competition and the next "Make a Pitch" has not been scheduled yet. Fitzpatrick said he thinks it will be sometime in February.
news@cm-life.com
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