Penn State Altoona held its spring semester Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology Student Showcase event Friday, April 28, 2017, in which students from various disciplines showcased their work through presentations to the college and local business community.
Students from the Electro-Mechanical Engineering program presented and demonstrated their senior projects, while those studying business presented on their internship and research opportunities. Students in the Security and Risk Analysis and Rail Transportation Engineering programs presented on their internships and course projects.
In a special ceremony, seven students were inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society, eligible by being in the top 20 percent of the undergraduate business program and reflecting the society's high standard of academic success. Inductees are William Butterfield, Karissa Buzzella, Tyler Dodson, Regina Edwards, Sarajane Meyers, Tiffany Reilly, and Jonathan Ruhl.
Results of the Pechter Business Plan Competition were announced. Out of four teams of competitors, two were awarded cash prizes: Kevin Whalen and Rob Welsh took second place and $2,500 for their The Guys Who Mow concept; and Nicholas Unis who took first place and $5,000 for his UnisBrands LLC concept. The competition, established by Penn State Altoona benefactor Shirley Pechter, consists of a four-phase process for students to take ideas from concept through a feasibility study/market analysis to a full business plan. Local business leaders judged the competition, basing their evaluations on the feasibility of the proposed businesses, the business overviews, and presentations.The students worked on their plans in the business incubator throughout the semester at the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, creating detailed descriptions of their business concepts, potential market, and likely competitors.
The Student Showcase is presented by the Division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology, the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, and title sponsor Donald and Nancy Devorris Entrepreneurship Endowment Program.
Check out photos from the event and watch a video of Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology students' project demonstration.
