SELINSGROVE — A new clothing line developed by three Susquehanna University students, and a revolutionary way to teach math may be sweeping the nation -- thanks to a little help from Valley entrepreneurs.
A speed-pitching contest was held at Susquehanna's Degenstein Campus Center on Thursday to give students and community members a chance at winning cash to help promote their businesses.
Winning $600 first prizes were Barbara Spotts, of Trevorton, who owns Johnny's Key, a program and education system designed to help students learn math; and the team of Ryan Rossi, 20, of West Chester, N.Y., Marcus Cheatham, 19, and Charles Boyce, 19, both of Baltimore, for their startup company, Paradigm Clothing Apparel, which designs and sells shirts with self-made logos.
"This is great to win," Rossi said. "We have worked so hard on this, and I am proud of what we did."
The idea of the event was for people to sit before a panel of experts: David Ercole, who is a sales and management expert; Kelly O'Brien Gavin, who is the director of the Greater Susquehanna Innovation Zone; Denise Prince, who is oversees Geisinger Health System's venture and technology transfer strategies; and Erica Shames, publisher of Susquehanna Life magazine.
Various fortune hunters had four minutes to sit with each judge and pitch ideas about why they thought people would be interested in their business.
"This is a great opportunity for people to come out and get some experience," said Leann Mischel, professor of business at Susquehanna. "This is like the speed-dating of the business world."
Mischel and student assistant Taylor Morrow organized the event.
"Given the economy the way it is, I think this is a nice way for people to come out and show off ideas they may have," Morrow said. "This is also a way for a person to gain confidence in their abilities."
As several contestants scurried to the judges and tried to sum up what they had to offer in 240 seconds, others stood patiently, waiting their turn.
"They are all trying very hard and doing a good job," Ercole said. "To see young people and older people out here trying is great."
Shames agreed.
"The diversity is wonderful," she said. "It is nice to see people out there trying."
The judges deliberated for about 30 minutes.
"This was a tough call," Mischel said. "They wanted to split this one right down the middle."
"I am shocked that I was chosen," Spotts said. "This money will come in handy to advertise and keep going."
Rossi agreed.
"This is such a great thing because we have worked really hard all year," he said. "We put a lot of time in this, and it is paying off."
— E-mail comments to fscarcella@dailyitem.com.
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Related Photos
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Susquehanna University students Marcus Cheatham, left, Ryan Rossi, and Charles Boyce, pitch their business idea to contest judge Erica Shames on Thursday. Robert Inglis/The Daily Item
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Barbara Spotts, of Trevorton, left, talks with judge Denise Prince about her system for teaching math during a competition Thursday at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove. Robert Inglis/The Daily Item
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Susquehanna University students Brett Moyer, left, and Yohannes Mengsteab, explain their business idea to judge David Ercole, during a business idea contest at Susquehanna University on Thursday night. Robert Inglis/The Daily Item
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