Thursday, Nov 7, 2019
Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition rewards students' entrepreneurial spirit
High school students have the chance to compete for a full, four-year tuition scholarship to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø and other prizes in the 2020 Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition.
The competition challenges high school seniors, juniors and sophomores throughout the U.S. to develop a well-rounded, innovative business idea. Seniors will compete for the grand prize of a full, four-year tuition scholarship, while juniors and sophomores will compete for cash prizes, the chance to automatically be entered into the senior competition when eligible, and a $250 scholarship toward Bronc Tank, a summer enrichment program for entrepreneurship. Transportation and lodging for the senior finalists outside the local area will be provided.
Last year, Eric Voros won the competition with his business idea — Orion's Belt, a product in which a traditional-looking belt transforms into a tourniquet during emergency situations. Voros is now a freshman global supply chain management major at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø.
"We're continually impressed with the students' ingenuity and innovation each year," says Lisa Teach '02, '09, director of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and a visiting professor. "We're anxious to see the types of ideas that students bring to the table in this year's competition."
The competition was developed by alumnus and entrepreneur Norm Brodsky ’64, the namesake of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø's business school, the Norm Brodsky College of Business. He and his wife, Elaine, pledged $10 million to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø to support student scholarships for business students and business school projects.
"A full scholarship to college is a life-changing thing for a high school student," Brodsky says. "I credit the education I received at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø as the reason for much of my business success because it provided a solid understanding of the fundamentals. I want to provide access to the same strong business foundation for the next generation of entrepreneurs."
The top five finalists from each group will present their ideas in front of a panel of judges at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø on Jan. 25, 2020.
To participate, students must submit a 400-word description of their product or service at the Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition webpage by Nov. 17, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. For more information, please contact Teach at teachli@rider.edu.