2. 2
Client
Global Entrepreneurship Week at Penn State
Client Contact Information
Linda Feltman
Senior Business Consultant, Coordinator for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)
Penn State Small Business Development Center
814-880-9288
lcf8@psu.edu
Happy Valley Communications Account Team Contact Information
Carly Harris
Account Executive
267-393-0873
csharris123@gmail.com
Amelia Friedrichs
Account Associate
973-349-6706
ameliabronwyn@gmail.com
Amy Walker
Account Associate
717-439-9128
aew5329@gmail.com
Casey Adam
Account Associate
908-303-0176
Caseyadam4@gmail.com
Brooke Weidenfeld
Account Associate
856-979-8602
Brooke.weidenfeld@gmail.com
Hannah Aboulhosn
Account Associate
571-205-0251
hannahraboulhosn@gmail.com
Marissa Salway
Account Associate
908-499-1327
marissa.salway@gmail.com
3. 3
Table of Contents
Client and Account Team Contact Information 2
Client Summary 4
Target Audience 6
Research/SWOT Analysis 7
Goals and Objectives 8
Evaluation of Goals and Objectives 9
Selfie Challenge 10
Media Coverage 15
Supporting Documents Appendix
Media Clippings Log 17
Promotional Materials and Ads
Toilet Paper 52
Banner 54
Balloons 54
Informational Tables 55
Promo Slide 55
Classroom Flyer 56
Promo Frisbees 56
Humans of New York Event Poster 57
Social Media
Facebook 58
Twitter 58
Website 59
4. 4
Client Summary
Global Entrepreneurship Week
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is “the world’s largest celebration of the
innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth
and expand human welfare”. A weeklong series of events was held in 130 countries around the
world from November 16th to 22nd
, 2014 to bring innovation and creativity to potential
entrepreneurs all around the country.
About Global Entrepreneurship Week at Penn State
GEW at Penn State promoted itself as an opportunity for students of every major,
instead of just for businesses students. There were over 70 events this year, including speakers,
events, and workshops based on peoples interests and abilities. Based on number of events
hosted and attendance, Penn State was ranked first in the nation for 2014 GEW.
5. 5
Global Entrepreneurship Week Attendance 2013
Student
Attendees
Student
Volunteers
SBDC
and/or
Faculty
Speakers,
Judges or
PSU
Staff/Faculty
Community
Attendees
Total
Attendees
2,637 114 72 94 139 3,056
Global Entrepreneurship Week Attendance 2014
Student
Attendees
Student
Volunteers
SBDC Speakers,
Judges, or
PSU
Staff/Faculty
Community
Attendees
Total
Attendees
3,751 204 72 92 421 5,055
6. 6
Target Audience
Primary Target Audience:
Happy Valley Communications’ GEW team has recognized undergraduate students, ages 18-24
as the primary target audience. One of the goals and missions of GEW is to share the
enthusiasm of entrepreneurship by inspiring students. Happy Valley Communications has
recognized the significant role students share in the success of this event, with several student
organizations participating and sponsoring GEW. Although all undergraduate students were
considered among the primary target audience, students with applicable majors such as
business or those with greater interest in entrepreneurship were specifically targeted by the
HVC account team. These students were considered to be the most receptive to the lineup of
events, with their interests closely aligning the core mission of GEW.
Secondary Target Audience:
Secondary audiences are composed of State College community members and professors.
State College Community: Happy Valley Communications sought to target this audience to
incorporate aspects of the client’s mission. In addition to inspiring students, GEW sought to
celebrate entrepreneurship within the community by featuring several local businesses in the
lineup of events. In addition, certain events required an admission price making adults more
likely to attend those events than students in our primary audience.
Professors: Penn State University professors, especially those in relevant business and
entrepreneurial fields were considered key among the secondary target audience. Professors
relay information about GEW events to their students and often offer extra credit for attending
events applicable to the content of their class. Happy Valley Communications worked closely
with several faculty and staff to discuss GEW events and encourage student participation.
7. 7
Research/SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
1. A high number of events for people to attend offers a wide variety
2. Extremely credible people collaborating on certain events
3. Interactivity through social media, including the Selfie Challenge, asking people
questions on social media accounts, etc.
4. Worthwhile prizes that will make people want to participate, including a pizza party with
President Barron
5. Asking professors to make it a class requirement/extra credit opportunity, which will
enforce participation in events for enjoyment afterwards
6. Tying popular people/events to entrepreneurship to promote GEW, including Brandon
Stanton from Humans of New York
Weaknesses:
1. The events do not always feel applicable to non-business students
2. There are no incentives for bringing friends with you to events
3. Non-business related student organizations (Greek life, major-related fraternities) are
not aware of the events
Opportunities:
1. Positioning GEW as a major Penn State event alongside THON
2. A successful week could yield positive publicity for Penn State and GEW
3. Building awareness with social media and word of mouth tactics because of our large
campus setting
4. Creating awareness for local downtown and State College business participating in this
year's events
Threats:
1. Increased competition this year from new GEW hosts, especially new regional hosts
2. GEW falls right before Thanksgiving break when many midterms are administered and
last minute assignments are given, potentially threatening student attendance
8. 8
Goals and Objectives
Goal: To increase the attendance of Penn State students and State College community
members from GEW at Penn State 2013 by the conclusion of GEW at Penn State 2014.
Objective 1: To increase awareness of GEW at Penn State among our target audiences
Objective 2: To increase the number of Twitter followers to the GEW account.
Objective 3: To increase the number of “Likes” on the GEW at Penn State Facebook
page.
Objective 4: To have at least one article written about GEW or the new ENTI Minor prior
to the week of events at the majority of local media outlets (The Daily Collegian, Centre
Daily Times, Onward State, Lion FM, etc.)
Objective 5: To increase promotional presence on campus, specifically targeting colleges
in the new ENTI Minor.
Objective 6: To redesign the GEW at Penn State Website to make it more appealing to
viewers
Tactics: To accomplish the goals and objectives our team used a variety of
tactics. These included:
• Increasing our social media presence by posting weekly, at minimum, on
each GEW at Penn State social media outlet. (Facebook, Twitter, Weebly)
• Using our social media accounts to inform our audiences of events, as
well as to interact with them
• Creating outreach materials including an event list and description pdf, a
Media Advisory, and a Press Release to distribute to local media outlets
• Targeting professors who teach ENTI classes, and asking them to
encourage students to attend GE Week events
• Hosting a table in the HUB and the Smeal Business Building
• Chalking and flyering classrooms with information about GE Week the
week before the events
• Updating and reorganizing the website
• Partner with downtown businesses for prizes to encourage students to
Attend GEW events
9. 9
Evaluation of Goals and Objectives
At the conclusion of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the total attendance of all the events
reached 5,055 students, surpassing the total from 2013. The overall goal of the campaign was
accomplished.
In addition to the success of the campaign to achieve the goal of increasing the total number of
attendees from the GEW 2013 turnout, the four objectives were also met. Although the first
objective was difficult to assess specifically, the achievement of the goal and objectives two,
three and four indicates that awareness was increased as the attendance increased.
As indicated by the numbers in the results section, both objectives two and three were met, as
the number of Twitter followers increased to 315 and the number of Facebook likes increased
to 470 by the conclusion of GEW 2014.
The fourth objective, to have at least one article written about GE Week or the new ENTI minor
prior to the week of the event, was also accomplished. We were covered by many local
newspapers, featured in the HUB’s “toilet paper” and also on the Penn State radio.
The fifth objective was met by a number of actions taken to promote around campus such as,
the balloons, banner on Osmond, the HUB table, and the flyers. The ENTI minor was promoted
by having events that were tailored towards the minor.
Lastly, our sixth objective was made easy with the help of some tech friends and now the site is
more appealing and easy to navigate.
Through the use of our tactics, our goal of increasing attendance and all four of our objectives
were met at the conclusion of our campaign for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014.
10. 10
Selfie Challenge
A new edition to the 2014 GEW event line-up was the GEW Selfie Challenge, which ran from
November 9 to November 19, targeting mainly first year students, however all Penn State
students were welcome to participate. The goal of the challenge was to familiarize students as
early as possible with the entrepreneurial resources available to them on and off campus while
simultaneously promoting GEW on campus before the week started.
A list of 17 local resources was available for students to visit and explore, where they would
take a selfie, proving they went to the destination. At each destination an informational
handout was available for students to learn more about the services offered. After taking the
selfie, students could share their selfie through Twitter, Instagram or email, where a student
team would track entries using a particular hashtag.
11. 11
For every entry submitted, students would earn one ticket to be entered to win a pizza party
with President Eric Barron.
In an effort to encourage participation, emails were sent out to multiple listservs as well as a
complete list of first year seminar professors in the business/communications disciplines as well
as those not. Each business participating in the challenge was also asked to promote the
challenge and spread the word. The challenge was blogged about through the Public Relations
Student Society of America (PRSSA), mentioned in a multitude of social media posts on the
GEW and Happy Valley Communications Twitter and Facebook platforms, highlighted by
Onward State and the Centre County Gazette, as well as featured on GEW USA News.
Twitter
Twitter (continued)
13. 13
Selfie Challenge signs were delivered to each destination, and communication with each
destination was essential in making sure the event ran smoothly. Graphics were created to help
promote the event and attached to emails sent out for others to pass on to students and
friends. A tab was designed and created on the Penn State GEW main website. The tab was
purely dedicated to the GEW Selfie Challenge, and was maintained and updated by the Selfie
Challenge team. In addition, flyers were printed and handed out to students from information
tables during GEW promo week. Although there was a large amount of coverage for the
challenge, student participation was lacking. Moving forward, a strong incentive and perhaps a
change in dates would make this challenge more successful. GEW is a universal event that falls
14. 14
directly before Thanksgiving break, a very busy time for college students. This challenge may
fare better during a week in October when there is less occurring, but could still promote the
week of GEW in November.
Media Coverage
15. 15
Date Outlet Title Link
10/10/14 The Daily
Collegian
Penn State and
Middlesex
collaborating for
innovation challenge
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/new
s/campus/article_2fd33bea-5096-
11e4-a303-001a4bcf6878.html
10/24/14 Penn State News Creating solution
together Students in
BBH and IST team up
for this semester’s
mHealth Challenge
http://news.psu.edu/story/331629/
2014/10/24/academics/creating-
solutions-together
10/25/14 Beaver Stadium
Football Program
Ohio vs. PSU
game
Bianca Barr’s Story http://www.gewpennstate.org/uplo
ads/5/3/3/9/5339347/student_entre
preneurship_feature.pdf
10/31/14 Penn State News Penn State Global
Entrepreneurship Week
official kicks of Nov.
16
http://news.psu.edu/story/332284/
2014/10/31/penn-state-global-
entrepreneurship-week-officially-
kicks-nov-16
11/5/14 Smeal Statement Global
Entrepreneurship Week
http://www.thesmealstatement.co
m/smeal/global-entrepreneurship-
week
11/7/14 Penn State News Are you a student who
wants to start a
business? Here’s a
success story
http://news.psu.edu/story/333346/
2014/11/07/academics/are-you-
student-who-wants-start-business-
heres-success-story
11/8/14 Centre Daily
Times
Bits of Business, Penn
State to host weeklong
business event
http://www.centredaily.com/2014/
11/08/4448798_bits-of-business-
new-job-a-
piece.html?sp=/99/216/365/&rh=1
11/9/14 Onward State Global
Entrepreneurship Week
Comes to Penn State
http://onwardstate.com/2014/11/10
/global-entrepreneurship-week-
comes-to-penn-state/#
11/9/14 -
11/22/14
Toilet Paper Global
Entrepreneurship Week
Penn State 2014
http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/m
arketing/pdf/November9_Novemb
er15_2014.pdf
http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/m
arketing/pdf/November16_Novem
ber22_2014.pdf
11/11/14 Penn State News Penn State students
explore global
entrepreneurship with
http://news.psu.edu/story/334180/
2014/11/11/campus-life/penn-
state-students-explore-global-
16. 16
teammates in London entrepreneurship-teammates
11/12/14 Onward State A Penn State Student’s
Waterless Car Wash
http://onwardstate.com/2014/11/12
/a-penn-state-students-waterless-
car-wash/
11/13/14 Centre County
Gazette
GEW aims to inspire
aspiring entrepreneurs
http://www.statecollege.com/news
/business/gew-aims-to-inspire-
aspiring-entrepreneurs,1461670/
11/14/14 Daily Collegian Global
Entrepreneurship Week
starts next week with a
variety of events
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/new
s/campus/article_81e2cc94-6c1a-
11e4-8371-d7b5353c2b68.html
11/14/14 GEW USA
NEWS
Photo Challenge http://us1.campaign-
archive1.com/?u=f66ebbe6d0b0e5
36e8353fa34&id=81421e6e56&e=
a5e61f60ee
11/18/14 Penn State News Penn State students,
London teammates win
MDX+PSU Challenge
http://news.psu.edu/story/335215/
2014/11/18/penn-state-students-
london-teammates-win-mdxpsu-
innovation-challenge
11/20/14 Penn State News Students propose TV
show as solution in
MDX+PSU Challenge
http://news.psu.edu/story/335519/
2014/11/20/academics/students-
propose-tv-show-solution-
mdxpsu-challenge
11/21/14 Penn State News Bio behavioral health
students share insight,
work at Engaged
Scholarship Expo
http://news.psu.edu/story/335771/
2014/11/21/academics/biobehavior
al-health-students-share-insight-
work-
engaged?utm_source=newswire&
utm_medium=email&utm_term=3
36725_TEXT&utm_content=12-
02-2014-14-
42&utm_campaign=student%20ne
wswire
11/21/14 Leaflet (New
Leaf Initiative
Newsletter)
N/A N/A
The Daily Collegian
October 10, 2014
17. 17
Penn State and Middlesex Collaborating for Innovation Challenge
Posted: Friday, October 10, 2014 11:57 am
By Meghan Garrity | Collegian Staff Writer
Students are connecting with co-workers across every continent as they graduate into a more
globalized marketplace.
That’s the idea behind the MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge, a new collaborative project
between Penn State and London’s Middlesex University.
“With modern technology, this ability to work remotely with your colleagues is a really crucial
skill,” Simon Best, of Middlesex University, said. “The ability to work together, problem solve,
connect and build relationships, that’s what we really push.”
Twenty students from Penn State and 20 students from Middlesex will work together in teams
of four to address sustainability, in-the-home, transportation and social entrepreneurship
issues, Penn State Professor of Engineering Liz Kisenwether said.
Teams will have three weeks to create a video explaining their solution to a problem in one of
the four categories. Out of the ten teams, three will present at a Global Seminar during Global
Entrepreneurship Week in November.
The winning team will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Summer Jam Entrepreneurship
Conference in Croatia this August — a weeklong conference featuring a variety of speakers and
networking events for student entrepreneurs around the world.
“This is the first time we’ve run this — it’s going to help students think globally and work with
partners in another country,” Coordinator of Penn State Global Entrepreneurship Week Linda
Feltman said. “Students get to think, ‘How do I think through solutions that potentially have
global impact?’”
Feltman said the MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge is one of 60 events during Global
Entrepreneurship week. This challenge is the first of its kind, and Feltman said she is excited to
see the ideas students can come up with.
“This is one of the few events that kicks off now that will end up culminating during Global
Entrepreneurship week,” Feltman said. “We’re hoping students will apply with the idea that
they will be part of a team that’s global.”
Best, Feltman and Kisenwether have been working on this challenge for about a year.
18. 18
Kisenwether said opportunities like the Innovation Challenge enhance student’s critical thinking
and entrepreneurial skills. By forcing students to communicate within a global context, the
Innovation Challenge prepares them to enter a worldwide economy.
“For Penn State students, the challenge is working long distance with students in London,”
Kissenwether said. “They may be international students with different ages and background.
This is full of challenges, but it’s going to be a fun ride.”
Applications are due Oct. 13, Kisenwether said. Teams will be announced Oct. 21.
Posted: Friday, October 10, 2014 11:57 am
Beaver Stadium Football Program Ohio State vs. PSU
20. 20
October 24, 2014
CreatingSolutionsTogether
Students in BBH and IST team up for this semester's mHealth Challenge
Marjorie S. Miller
October 24, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Drawing on personal experiences with real-world problems, students
in the Department of Biobehavioral Health (BBH) and the College of Information Sciences and
Technology (IST) are putting their heads together to create mobile technologies that advance
health and well-being.
As part of Penn State’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) this semester, students in BBH
and IST will participate in mHealth, a challenge that allows undergraduate students to work in
cross-discipline teams to mock-up a mobile health application that addresses a societal health
need associated with a specific targeted audience. The event is scheduled for Nov. 17.
The PSU mHealth is modeled after a typical consulting scenario in which a group of subject
matter experts (in this case BBH) work with technology experts (IST students) to create a
prototype that addresses a defined program or issue for a defined audience.
Students from JoAnn Foley-Defiore’s course in BBH and students from Jim Jansen’s IST course
are the collaborators.
“The idea is to really take a behavioral theory … and enable it through mobile technology,” said
Meg Small, assistant director for innovations and social change at the Bennett Pierce
Prevention Research Center.
Specifically, BBH students prepare a brief describing a target population, health need and
behavioral objectives designed to address the health need. Students in IST act as technology
consultants working with BBH students to create a mock-up of a mobile app that addresses the
defined need. Then, BBH and IST students prepare idea pitches with faculty support.
Participating teams pitch their ideas to a panel of judges during GEW. The challenge is held
once per semester. Last year was its inaugural year.
There are five teams and each team is composed of two to three BBH students and two to
three IST students, Small said.
Last spring’s winning team was offered internships by a technology company in Silicon Valley,
California.
This year’s students will have other opportunities within Penn State and the local community to
work on their ideas after the competition. Lion Launchpad and New Leaf Initiative are among
the collaborators, Small said.
21. 21
“The variety and breadth of ideas … it really is amazing,” she said.
One example of an application that was pitched at last year’s competition was a system to track
hospital patients. One of the student participants had an experience where she had been
unable to locate a friend who was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, Small said. She
wanted to fix the problem by developing technology to help visitors locate family and friends
admitted to the hospital.
“The students are amazing,” she said. “Boy, they come in polished.”
“I personally learned a lot from working with the IST students. Their field of study is completely
different than BBH, but health care and technology are extremely connected. It is very
important to experience how two majors can coincide. In this case, our team was able to use our
knowledge towards promoting health.”
— Kele Powell, senior
Another example from last year’s event was an application to offer long-distance technical
assistance to farmers to improve their tomato crops, Small said.
“The students really do love it,” she said. “It’s a very high-energy event.”
Senior BBH student Kele Powell and her team received second place for their mobile mock-up
application, “Beat-the-Betes,” in the Spring 2014mHealth Challenge.
“Our target audience was children with Type 2 Diabetes and the aim of our interactive
application was to help these children manage their disease through an educational treasure
board game,” Powell said.
She said she believes her participation in the challenge helped her understand the importance
of two colleges working together.
“I personally learned a lot from working with the IST students,” she said. “Their field of study is
completely different than BBH, but health care and technology are extremely connected. It is
very important to experience how two majors can coincide. In this case, our team was able to
use our knowledge towards promoting health.”
Additionally, the IST students helped keep Powell and her fellow BBH teammate on track, she
said.
“BBH students are taught to have a comprehensive understanding of health,” she said. “We
study several topics such as physiology, anatomy, psychology, sociology and biology. Therefore,
our minds can be all over the place when we talk about a certain health issue. We think about
22. 22
all of the different factors that come into play when examining a disease or disparity, which can
get complicated.”
Powell continued, “However, my IST teammates were very good at keeping us focused on one
thing at a time and pinpointing the most important topics to pitch to the audience.”
This semester Powell said she is most looking forward to seeing how the BBH students
transform their initial ideas from their project briefs, which she provided feedback on.
“I don’t want to give away any hints, but I am very excited to see how they will incorporate all
of these ideas into a mobile application with the IST students,” Powell said.
Powell said the mHealth Challenge is a great way to help students in their future careers
because it teaches them time management and tests their ability to work in groups. Both of
these characteristics, she said, apply to any career.
“The challenge is definitely a lot of work in a small period of time, so learning to manage your
time wisely is important to successfully compete in the challenge,” Powell said. “The students
also learn how to work effectively in interdisciplinary groups which is easy for some and difficult
for others. Not to mention, you pitch your mobile application (to) at least 150 people, if not
more. Therefore, public speaking also comes into play.”
Powell said another benefit to the challenge is that it gives students the opportunity to connect
with professors, which is important at such a large university.
“It allows students to expand their networks and meet people that they would never have met
if they did not participate in the challenge,” she said. “Also, it gives PSU professors the chance
to be more involved with their students.”
Last fall, the mHealth Challenge was the top attended event during Global Entrepreneurship
Week, Small said.
“We’re going for the record again this year,” she said. “I think it’s a good example of engaged
scholarship.”
This semester’s judges include Mary Good, president of Good Advice, LLC; Ed Marx, director of
strategic analytics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and board member of the Schreyer
Honors College; and Jeffrey Goldberg, chief operating officer of TIAG.
The public is invited to attend the mHealth Challenge pitch night, which will be held from 6 to 8
p.m. in Room 113 in the IST building.
Penn State’s GEW is Nov. 16 through 21. For more information visitwww.gewpennstate.org.
24. 24
October 31, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) officially kicks
off on Nov. 16 and runs through Nov. 20 at Penn State.
GEW is a week-long series of events designed to inspire people to explore their
potential as self-starters and innovators. Events range from small networking
gatherings to large competitions, all designed to connect people with potential
collaborators, mentors and investors.
It was launched in 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and was
brought to Penn State in 2009 by the Small Business Development Center.
This year’s GEW includes more than 60 events planned at Penn State with 18
academic colleges and programs, a dozen student organizations and 13 Centre
Region partners participating. A complete list of GEW 2014 events can be found
online at http://gewatpennstate2014.sched.org/.
Following are some of the events being held at Penn State, which are at the
University Park campus unless otherwise noted:
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Penn State Berks will host its 2014 Fall Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Panel
Discussion from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in 121 Gaige Technology and Business Innovation
Building on the Berks campus.
Sunday, Nov. 9
The GEW Selfie Challenge runs from Nov. 9 to 19 and is designed to introduce
students to the entrepreneurial resources available on and off campus while
also raising awareness of Penn State’s GEW events.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Asif Khan, founder and president of the Location Based Marketing Association,
will talk about trends in mobile, social and local from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the
Nittany Lion Inn.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
John Dillon, the Norman Eberly Professor of Practice in Journalism, will
moderate a digital journalism panel from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the HUB Auditorium.
Thursday, Nov. 13
“Going Global for the Greater Good” from 7 to 8 p.m. in 104 Thomas will
features students discussing their trips to Panama and Ghana through Global
Business Brigades and Deloitte consultants sharing their experiences through a
similar program called 4G’s: Going Global for the Greater Good.
Sunday, Nov. 16
25. 25
Following a semester of collecting one-minute pitches, nine students will walk
away with $1,000 each at the 1,000 Pitches Award Ceremony from 2 to 6 p.m. at
the Nittany Lion Inn.
Entrepreneurship Game Show Night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in 220 Hammond will
mimic two popular game shows: The Dating Game and the Family Feud. The
Penn State Dating Game will pit six student entrepreneurs in a competition to
win a lunch date with local entrepreneurs while Penn State Family Feud will
place eight students into two families, answering questions about the Penn
State entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Monday, Nov. 17
Lunch & Learn: Centre Region Innovation Ecosystem from noon to 1:30 p.m. at
New Leaf’s headquarters at 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337 in State College will
include a panel of local entrepreneurs, University faculty and students
discussing their experiences navigating the Centre Region’s innovation
ecosystem.
Representatives at the Intercollege Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Minor (ENTI) Fair will be on hand to explain ENTI’s many options from noon to 5
p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center’s Galbraith Lounge, including clusters in food
and bio-innovation, new media, new venture, social entrepreneurship,
technology-based entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurship and innovation
and hospitality management.
The second annual Engaged Scholarship Expo will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at
Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center.
4 Under 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. in 262 Willard will feature a panel of four recent
Penn State alumni discussing their successes and challenges in developing their
own startups.
Robert Platzer, CEO and founder PJW Group, will present “A Restaurant
Entrepreneur’s Story” at 6 p.m. in 112 Chambers.
The Thriving Artist Session 1: How to Succeed as an Artist and Entrepreneur
from 6 to 7 p.m. in 16 Borland will focus on what it means to be a professional
artist and entrepreneur.
The Penn State mHealth Pitch Competition from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cybertorium
in the IST Building will feature students from the College of Information Sciences
and Technology and Department of Biobehavioral Health working together to
develop a mobile health solution that addresses a societal issue.
Rachelle Yankowich, art director for [L]earned Media, will present “How to Start
a Creative Agency” from 6 to 8 p.m. in 113 Carnegie.
“First Step of Starting a Business” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in 262 Willard is a
workshop designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs to begin the process of
successful business ownership.
A student entrepreneur panel from 8 to 9 p.m. in 113 Carnegie will feature the
students talking about how they balanced the needs of their business with their
college experience.
26. 26
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Robert Anderson, founder of Sustainable Strategies - Advisors in Food and
Agriculture, will present “Global Entrepreneurship in Organic Foods Markets”
from 11 a.m. to noon in 133 Rodney Erickson Food Sciences Building.
“The Mind of the Entrepreneur” from 3 to 4 p.m. in the State College Borough
Building, 243 S. Allen St., will discuss the mindset and approaches of successful
entrepreneurs.
The Schreyer Honors College will present “Is Moving to Silicon Valley Right for
You?” from 3 to 4 p.m. through a virtual Google Hangout.
“I Have an Idea for a Business. Now What?” from 3 to 5 p.m. in Kunkle Lounge
lets students talk with small business development experts about their concepts
in this free and confidential service.
“Is E for Me? Why College is an Ideal Time to Start a Business” from 4 to 5 p.m.
in the Foster Auditorium in Paterno Library will feature a panel of students and
faculty who are involved in entrepreneurship and leadership.
“Immigration and Business” from 4 to 8 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center’s
Freeman Auditorium will feature Aaron Brooks of Penn State Student Legal
Services, who is a practicing immigration attorney.
“How to Start Your Own Creative Agency” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in 113 Carnegie
will feature a panel of entrepreneurs who launched their own creative agencies
in State College.
“Websites: Session 1 — Competitive, Search Engine Friendly, Social Media
Connection” from 6 to 7 p.m. in 158 Willard will discuss numerous aspects of
website design and marketing.
“The Thriving Artist Session 2: Achieving Goals, Effective Marketing & Building
Strong Relationships” from 6 to 7 p.m. in 16 Borland continues the work of the
first session and focuses on how to move from idea to completion.
“Research to Start-Up - For Faculty and Researchers” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 262
Willard is designed to teach investigators how to commercialize their Penn State
research.
“Where Is the Money?” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at New Leaf headquarters on 243 S.
Allen St. Suite 337, State College, is a panel discussion on how to finance a
startup idea.
“Websites: Session 2 — Mobile and Credit Card Tools” from 7 to 8 p.m. in 158
Willard will focus on search engine optimization.
“Take a Risk: Study Abroad” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in 113 Carnegie is a panel
discussion about how study abroad requires the same entrepreneurial spirit
promoted by GEW.
“Find Your Passion and Get Connected” from 8 to 9 p.m. at New Leaf
headquarters at 243 S.. Allen St. Suite 337, State College, is a networking event
for students and community members to mingle and find a surprising twist.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
27. 27
Meet startup business owners and employees in the area for their weekly 8 a.m.
coffee at New Leaf headquarters at 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337, State College.
The annual Women’s Network Group Member Showcase from 9 to 10 a.m. at
New Leaf headquarters at 243 S. Allen St. Suite 337, State College, will highlight
the diverse and exciting businesses run by local women entrepreneurs.
Business law, how to incorporate and protecting intellectual property will be the
topics at “Legal Issues for Journalists” from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the HUB-
Robeson Center Auditorium.
“Middlesex University + Penn State Entrepreneurship Global Seminar”from
11:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. is a video conference bringing together peers from
around the world.
“Middlesex University + Penn State Team Challenge: Finals and Awards” from
11:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. is the culmination of a competition of student teams
made up of Penn State and Middlesex University (London) students. The event
is a video conference.
“Become an EdTech Entrepreneur” Learn from the Experts” from 11:15 a.m. to
1:10 p.m. will feature successful educational technology entrepreneurs. Site to
be announced.
Local startups will be featured in the Entrepreneurs’ Start-up Tour from 11:15
a.m. to 2:15 p.m. in the Galbraith Lounge at the HUB-Robeson Center.
The Ag300 Idea Pitch Celebration Lunch Event for PSU 1,000 Pitches will be held
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Forest Resource Building.
2013-14 Penn State Laureate Ken Womack will speak at the Outreach
Toastmasters meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in room 413 of the 329 Building at
Innovation Park.
The Penn State Libraries will host “Background Research for Entrepreneurs”
from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 302 Paterno Library.
Schlow Centre Region Library will host a business resources class from 4 to 5
p.m. at 211 S. Allen St., State College.
“Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies - The Decentralized Revolution” from 5:30 to 6:30
p.m. in 110 Smeal Auditorium will center on Internet currencies.
“Women Entrepreneurs in Film: An Evening with Distributor Nancy Gerstman of
Zeitgeist Films and Filmmaker Pearl Gluck” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the State
Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., State College, will focus on what’s needed for
success in the film industry.
A panel of women in technology and science will discuss how their passion
carried them over their challenges from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 208 IST Building.
“The Thriving Artist Session 3: Money Management & Asset Creation” from 6 to
7:30 p.m. in 16 Borland will focus on the financial aspects of being an artist.
The Design Thinking Workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Schlow Centre Region
Library in 211 S. Allen St., State College, will pose a design problem that must be
solved using the design thinking method, challenging participants to empathize
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with the user, define user needs, rapidly brainstorm, prototype and test
concepts.
“The Second Step of Starting a Small Business—How to Write a Business Plan”
will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. in 262 Willard.
“U.S. Banking Basics for International Students” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in 158
Willard will teach students from overseas about the American banking system.
“Learning From Experience: Reliably Building Mobile and Web Apps” from 7:30
to 9 p.m. in 208 IST Building will feature leaders of two seasoned design and
development companies discussing successful Web and mobile apps.
Thursday, Nov. 20
The College of Agricultural Sciences will host an open house for its
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 6 Armsby.
Robert Anderson, founder of Sustainable Strategies - Advisors in Food and
Agriculture, will present “Global Entrepreneurship in Organic Foods Markets”
from 11 a.m. to noon in 133 Rodney Erickson Food Sciences Building.
The Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County Expo will be held from
noon to 6 p.m. at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
“Management 215 Entrepreneurial Mindset Guest Speaker Joe Yodock” from
2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in 108 Wartik will discuss the skills and mindset of an
entrepreneurial mindset.
“I Have an Idea for a Business. Now What?” from 3 to 5 p.m. in Kunkle Lounge
lets students talk with small business development experts about their concepts
in this free and confidential service.
“Voices From the Field: Tim Kerchinski” from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. in 362 Willard
will feature Tim Kerchinski, innovation team lead from the Pennsylvania
Technical Assistance Program, will explore how the traits of assertiveness and
responsiveness can be used in creating better working relationships with team
members and customers.
A workshop on crowd funding for entrepreneurs will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
in 118 Katz Building.
Local business owners will host Community Entrepreneurship Night featuring
‘Internship Potluck’ from 6 to 9 p.m. at the co.space at 244 E. Nittany Ave., State
College.
Smeal Statement
November 5, 2014
29. 29
By: Joy Lai, Editing Head
More than 10 million people have participated in Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) to
celebrate and connect with entrepreneurial experts worldwide. If you've been dreaming of
starting your own business, here's your chance! You can talk to the local community of
entrepreneurs and find out how you could succeed in your star-up field.
This free event is open for everyone and even if you don't know whether you want to start a
business yet, it's a fantastic opportunity to explore your potential as an innovator and network
with dozens of influential guest speakers - get inspired by what they have to say and learn more
about the process of entrepreneurship. These events provide information that could save you
hours of time or thousands of dollars in the future as a business owner.
The Selfie Challenge opens November 9-19.
Promo Week Events starts November 10-14.
Main Events runs from November 16-21.
Schedule page: http://gewatpennstate2014.sched.org/. Make sure you click on the "Expanded"
button for a full description of all the events. There are popular sessions with limited capacity of
seats that you'll need to register for. Check out the color code index on the right
that represents different seminar categories.
Smeal events:
Thursday, November 13 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm 104 Thomas
Learn about student trips to Panama and Ghana through Global Business Brigades. Learn
how they empower communities. Find out what the students are learning from those
experiences. Deloitte consultants will share their own experiences and reflections on a program
similar to Global Business Brigade, called 4G's: Going Global for the Greater Good. The audience
will have an opportunity to question the panel. Attendees will have a chance to network with
Deloitte after the event.
Monday, November 17 • 12:00pm - 4:00pm Galbraith Lounge (HUB at top of ground floor
steps)
Find out more about the Penn State Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minor. Chat with
representatives from Food and Bio-Innovation, New Media, New Venture, Social
Entrepreneurship, Technology Based Entrepreneurship, Digital Entrepreneurship and
Innovation, and Hospitality Management clusters. Participate in interactive exercises at each
cluster.
Monday, November 17 • 12:20pm - 1:25pm 208 Business Building
Contract Manufacturing for the Entrepreneur with Rob Shearer in Brad Leve's class
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Tuesday, November 18 • 9:45am - 11:00am 206 Wagner
MGMT 215 Entrepreneurial Mindset with Dr. Brian McCleary, Founder of State College Family
Medicine in Brad Leve's class
Tuesday, November 18 and Thursday, November 20• 3:00pm - 5:00pm
I Have an Idea for a Business. Now What? Sponsored by SBDC/IST Student Club/ HVC/ NCG
Tuesday, November 18 • 7:30pm - 9:00pm 113 Carnegie (Auditorium)
Take a Risk: Study Abroad (Labeed AlMani is on the panel)
Wednesday, November 19 • 6:00pm - 7:00pm 110 Smeal Auditorium
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies – The Decentralized Revolution Robert Macy and Patrick Cines
Thursday, November 20 • 9:45am - 11:00am 206 Wagner
MGMT 215 Entrepreneurial Mindset with Zach Pappis in Brad Leve's class
Nittany Consulting Group and Professional Management Association members have
volunteered to host at some of the events. Smeal students are participating in a variety of ways
so please see an org member if you want to volunteer. We always have room for more.
Penn State News
November 7, 2014
31. 31
Areyouastudentwhowantstostartabusiness?Here'sasuccessstory
Dane Vanover
November 7, 2014
This is the final story in a four-part series about topics every aspiring student entrepreneur
should know. The monthly series was written by Penn State Outreach News Bureau intern Dane
Vanover and is a service of Penn State’s Small Business Development Center.
Inspiration can strike any time or place.
Taylor Mitcham, a senior in mining engineering, was not looking to start a business last winter.
Her car needed a wash but as a busy college student, Mitcham didn’t want to waste time sitting
in a tunnel car wash. However, she didn’t have a hose at her apartment to clean it herself. She
became determined to find a more cost and time efficient way to clean her car.
Mitcham knew about waterless carwashes from living in Los Angeles and decided to test the
concept out for herself in State College. She ordered samples of different waterless carwash
solutions and when she found one that didn’t freeze in the cold State College winter, she tried
it on her car.
“I was about halfway done and seeing some really good results when I paused and thought
‘Man, I wish someone could just come here and do this for me,’” said Mitcham.
The idea was simple. By using only the biodegradable carwash solution and some microfiber
cloths, Mitcham could provide clients with an affordable, scratch-free wash and wax for their
vehicles wherever they were parked. The business would save her customers time and save the
environment from the chemical runoff and wasted water of a traditional carwash.
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In March, Mitcham took her idea for the Simple Car Wash to the free consulting hours offered
by Penn State’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Nittany Consulting Group in
Kunkle Lounge to get opinions on the feasibility of her business idea.
“I thought Taylor’s idea was great,” said Linda Feltman, SBDC senior business consultant for
student entrepreneurship. “She saw a need and figured out how to solve a problem in a way
that works for a tangible, hands-on business.”
Encouraged, Mitcham began working with the SBDC toward launching her business. She credits
the SBDC with helping her figure out problems about additional licenses, tax information and
whether to hire people as independent contractors or actual employees. The SBDC also
connected Mitcham with local businesses and organizations such as ClearWater Conservancy to
benefit from Simple Car Wash’s Operation 1 for 100 initiative, where for every 100 gallons of
water saved by her waterless car washes, Mitcham will donate a dollar to a partnered cause.
“I created Operation 1 for 100 because I wanted to become more a part of the Centre County
community, not just as a business but also as a citizen. It’s good to give back,” said Mitcham.
Mitcham is working with Happy Valley Communications and a marketing class in the Smeal
College of Business to promote her services to students and she’ll partner with more members
of the community for fundraising events. She might even license out her brand, as she has
already been contacted by businesses and individuals along the East Coast who are interested
in using the Simple Car Wash name and logo for their own waterless carwashes.
During Global Entrepreneurship Week at Penn State (Nov. 16-20), Mitcham will share her story
of innovation and motivation at the Student Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion at 8 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 17, in Carnegie Building Auditorium. Seating is limited.
To get started on your own
business idea, contact the
SBDC at 814-863-4293 or
request assistance online.
33. 33
Centre Daily Times
November 8, 2014
Bits of Business | New job a piece of cake
A local woman recently opened a cake-making business.
Carrie Williams, however, took a few detours before she realized her dream.
About 15 years before she opened Serendipity’s Cakes of Distinction in Pleasant Gap her family
convinced her to become a teacher, a job she soon realized wasn’t for her. She went into real
estate for 14 years, but she always wanted to do what she loved — make cakes.
“I wanted to be a cake decorator, and everyone said, ‘no, no, no,’ ” Williams said. “Back then it
wasn’t a reputable career and there weren’t people on TV doing it. They talked me into doing
something else I didn’t have a passion for.”
Williams’ bakery, at 114 E. College Ave., is a one-person operation by appointment only, which
can be made by calling 574-3242.
Williams said her cakes are wheat, gluten and nut free.
“My mother had developed issues years ago, so we experimented with recipes for her, and I
found out more people had allergy problems,” Williams said. “I wanted to do something more
special, different and meaningful than the average bakery.”
Veterans to be served
Texas Roadhouse will give a Texas-sized thank you to veterans this week.
The restaurant, with a location on Waddle Road in Patton Township, is inviting veterans and
active U.S. service members for a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day.
If you’re a service member elsewhere in the country, Texas Roadhouse is giving away free
lunches at each of its locations.
Service members who provide proof of service in the form a VA card or discharge papers can
choose from one of 10 entrees, such as a 6-ounce sirloin, two sides and a nonalcoholic
beverage. The free lunch offer does not include free meal offers for family members or friends.
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Applebee’s will also offer veterans and active-duty military a free meal on Tuesday. Customers
will be asked to provide proof of service.
The offer is valid for dine-in only and features a special menu, including traditional sides.
The restaurant has a location on Colonnade Way in Patton Township.
Penn State to host weeklong business event
Starting a small business has never been harder.
Learning the first steps you have to take might never be easier.
The 7th annual Penn State Global Entrepreneurship Week will kick off Nov. 16 and runs through
Nov. 20. There will be 70 events throughout the week, 68 of which are open to the public.
GEW, an international event in more than 150 countries, promotes people to explore their
potential as self-starters and innovators and to connect people with potential collaborators,
mentors and investors. Events range from small networking gatherings to large competitions.
“We’d love everyone, students and community members, to come,” GEW coordinator Linda
Feltman said. “We expanded it last year and more people came, so it was a benchmark year for
us. We hope that continues with more events and people this year.”
The event drew more than 3,000 students and community members last year for 45 events.
“I’m really hoping we have more community members out,” Feltman said. “If they look at the
schedule, they’ll see a lot of opportunities that they’ll probably be interested in.”
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Onward State
November 9, 2014
Global Entrepreneurship Week Comes to Penn State
BY DOUG LEESON ON NOVEMBER 10, 2014 AT 5:25 AM
For those interested in creating their own businesses, Global Entrepreneurship Week has
arrived to help with those dreams.
Global Entrepreneurship Week holds events around the world, and is making an appearance at
Penn State over the next two weeks in order to connect students with entrepreneurs and help
students create their own businesses.
Per GEW’s website: “GEW is a week-long series of events designed to inspire people to explore
their potential as self-starters and innovators. Events range from small networking gatherings
to large competitions, all designed to connect people with potential collaborators, mentors and
investors.”
In its sixth year at Penn State, GEW’s itinerary features more than 60 events coordinated by 43
academic colleges and programs, student organizations, and other partners.
This week, dubbed “Promo Week,” includes the R.W. Johnson Lecture Series and a Digital
Journalism Panel. Although the event technically starts this week, the main events of GEW are
next week, and include an Entrepreneurship Game Show Night, the Penn State mHealth Pitch
Competition, and the culmination of the 1000 Pitches competition with the University of
Michigan. Speakers during the week include a number of Penn State professors and student
leaders, as well as CEOs from companies such as Actuated Medical and Apex Applications.
A selfie contest will also be held until Nov. 19, which gives senders ticket entries to win a pizza
party with none other than President Barron. Students can win tickets by taking selfies at
certain areas around campus and submitting them on Instagram by tagging
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Penn State News
November 11, 2014
PennStatestudentsexploreglobalentrepreneurshipwithteammatesinLondon
By Yixuan Li
November 11, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — On Oct. 29, 16 Penn State students were teamed up with 16 students
from Middlesex University in London, and together accepted the three-week MDX+PSU
Innovation Challenge. It’s a new component of Penn State’s events supporting Global
Entrepreneurship Week, held globally Nov. 17-23 and Nov. 16-21 at the University Park
campus.
Elizabeth Kisenwether, Penn State assistant professor of engineering design, helped launch the
cross-continental student entrepreneurship initiative. “We are looking for innovative ideas from
students that could be developed into an applicable model to solve a common problem in
different parts of the world,” she said.
“Entrepreneurship is a term that is bold and daring — knowing how to take calculated risks and
capitalizing on the results. It is the process of getting your idea off the ground and going
forward to succeed.”
– Jaehong Kim,
Penn State team member,
MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge
Kisenwether explained the framework of the challenge: “Students were divided into eight
teams, with two students from Penn State and two students from Middlesex University on each
team. In the course of three weeks, students are required to identify a problem within one of
four categories — Green Technology, In the Home, Social Entrepreneurship and Transportation
— then develop a plan to solve it.”
According to Kisenwether, each team will create a three-minute video presentation, with every
member of the team requiring an appearance, to be submitted before midnight on Nov. 14. The
videos will be reviewed by faculty members from Penn State’s intercollege Entrepreneurship
and Innovation (ENTI) minor, graduates of the Penn State Engineering Entrepreneurship (E-
SHIP) and ENTI minors and selected external angel investors. They will be evaluated based on
the demonstration of the problem and the team’s approach to the solution, as well as the
effectiveness of the video pitch.
The top three teams will be announced and videos from the top teams will be viewed at the
MDX+PSU Global Collaboration event during Global Entrepreneurship Week, and the best team
will be rewarded with a paid trip to Croatia for a student entrepreneurship conference in
summer 2015.
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Developing the challenge
The challenge’s co-founders are Kisenwether, Linda Feltman, coordinator of Penn State Global
Entrepreneurship Week, and Simon Best, a professor and program leader for MSC Innovation
Management and Entrepreneurship at Middlesex University. His university’s current objective is
to engage with 1,000 students this academic year, track 50 businesses that students have
started and set up two businesses owned by the university’s Enterprise Development Hub
(EDH@MDX) that are run by students. According to Best, the school just launched its
first EDH@MDX-owned, student-run business at the end of October, a recycling business.
“Sometimes the title of ‘entrepreneurship’ could sound intimidating. Not every student wants to
start a business. But having an entrepreneurial mindset is highly valued by employers in
corporations as well. Every industry is calling for innovation.”
— Elizabeth Kisenwether,
Penn State assistant professor of engineering design
Kisenwether and Feltman met Best when he was visiting Penn State last fall. The three clicked
well and decided to keep in touch, looking to explore opportunities. The idea of the MDX+PSU
Challenge was conceived during one of their Google Hangout meetings and over time
developed into a concrete project.
“We want to make Global Entrepreneurship Week a truly global event,” Feltman said. “Working
with students in London will be really beneficial for our students to get experience in cross-
cultural teamwork and building start-ups in today’s world.”
Challenges of the challenge
Many students with a passion for entrepreneurship across the University Park campus applied
for the challenge. Kisenwether and Feltman reviewed the applications and finalized the list of
16 graduate and undergraduate students based on their ideas and availability.
When asked what entrepreneurship means to them, one of the challenge participants, Penn
State student Jaehong Kim said, “Entrepreneurship is a term that is bold and daring — knowing
how to take calculated risks and capitalizing on the results. It is the process of getting your idea
off the ground and going forward to succeed.”
“I think an entrepreneur is an innovator of finding a situation or task that can be more efficient
with a certain product or service. It's about bettering people around you and the community
you're in,” Alexandra Brennan, another Penn State challenge participant, said. “And it is
completely related to being global. When you are thinking of an idea or service, most likely,
another part of the world needs that, too.”
Although working in groups may not be a new concept for most of the students, working with
someone they have never met before on another continent is a first experience for some.
39. 39
“We need to do more than just keep the doors open to innovation. We need deliberate
strategies to promote economic development and a culture that rewards entrepreneurship.”
— Penn State President Eric Barron
With the help of Google Hangout and Skype, students are able to talk with their partners
thousands miles away, virtually face-to-face. But with a five-hour time difference between the
Eastern U.S. and the U.K. and the individual differences of students’ schedules, it’s not always
easy to get everyone together at the same time. Some messages won’t be read until the next
day.
“Developing connections is the main outcome,” Best said, describing what he hopes the
MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge will accomplish. “Despite social media, we still live in a
disconnected world. We are extremely dependent on visual signals, and working on a project
like this limits the visual signals. Another achievement I want for the students is to learn how to
cope with the lack of nonverbal communication that occurs when you work with others
remotely.”
Many student participants expressed their excitement to work with people from different
backgrounds with diverse sets of skills and contributing different perspectives.
Among the participants, many have already experienced the feeling of being an entrepreneur.
Some used to or still own small businesses, ranging from a photography studio to an Ecuadorian
food cart.
Abraham DeHart, a Penn State MBA student who has owned a landscape business for nine
years since the age of 12, said his experience as an entrepreneur has helped him in better
understanding different components of starting a business.
“People say the world is becoming smaller and smaller because of globalization. Working on a
multicultural team with each member from a different national origin, we want to take the
opportunity of this challenge to create something that could be beneficial and applied to
different parts of the world.”
— Abraham DeHart,
Penn State MBA student and team member,
MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge
“We work well as a team — while some of us are good at coming up with innovative ideas,
some of us can work on implementing the ideas,” DeHart said.
“People say the world is becoming smaller and smaller because of globalization,” he continued.
“Working on a multicultural team with each member from a different national origin, we want
to take the opportunity of this challenge to create something that could be beneficial and
applied to different parts of the world.”
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For some, this is the beginning of their exploration to entrepreneurship. Amanda Crittenden,
who is participating this challenge as a Penn State freshman, said that it has been great
experience for her.
“I have learned a lot through my time in this project that I didn’t expect to learn,” she said.
“How to communicate with an international team, how to manage our time wisely, how to
overcome boundaries, and how to come up with an entrepreneurial idea and consider how it
would react in the market as well as how venture capitalists might perceive our idea.”
Crittenden said she also has gained knowledge about the available resources on campus
through the process. “We’ve used the expertise of many professors and students across
campus to help us envision our idea as reality,” she said. “Initially, going into the challenge, I
was nervous that I wouldn’t have a lot to bring to the table as a freshman, but I believe our
teamwork together doesn’t necessarily have to rely on our experience in the past, but what we
have to offer now.”
Supporting an entrepreneurial culture
President Eric Barron called for a stronger “culture of entrepreneurship” during his remarks on
the topic of student career success and economic development at the September 2014 Penn
State Board of Trustees meeting.
“We need to do more than just keep the doors open to innovation,” Barron said. “We need
deliberate strategies to promote economic development and a culture that rewards
entrepreneurship.”
“Instead of attempting to tell a student what to study — they should be free to pursue what
interests them, what drives them,” Barron said earlier in the year, also on the theme of student
career success and economic development, one of his six major topics of discussion he
identified as imperatives for the University’s future success.
Faculty members and groups have been dedicated to create more resources available for the
community to inspire students in realizing new opportunities and exploring entrepreneurship.
Last August, the new intercollege ENTI minor launched, offering seven entrepreneurship areas
of content, or “clusters,” to accommodate different areas of interest for students in all majors.
Kisenwether, director of the minor, said she would encourage every student to take at least one
entrepreneurial class during college and also to look at fields outside of their own.
“Sometimes the title of ‘entrepreneurship’ could sound intimidating,” Kisenwether said. “Not
every student wants to start a business. But having an entrepreneurial mindset is highly valued
by employers in corporations as well. Every industry is calling for innovation.”
41. 41
The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where Feltman serves as student
entrepreneurship business consultant, also provides different services for student
entrepreneurs. SBDC holds weekly advising hours on the University Park campus, scheduled this
semester from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Kunkle Activities Center at the
junction of Hammond and Sackett buildings.
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), brought to Penn State in 2009 by the SBDC, also will be a
good opportunity for students to explore their passion for innovation, with more than 60
events scheduled this year. Students themselves initiated many of the events.
Jason Brewer, a Penn State alumnus, has been coming back to campus as a speaker for GEW in
recent years. Brewer is the CEO of Philadelphia digital agency Brolik, which he co-founded with
friends in State College when he was a sophomore student in 2004. For him, it has been an
exciting journey as every day could lead to new possibilities for a startup company.
Brewer also said college is a perfect time for students to start thinking about starting their own
company, with all the resources available on campus. “You have time to do a lot of
experiments,” Brewer said. “And even if you fail, you can learn from mistakes and apply your
experience when you go into the real world.”
Penn State News and Media Relations intern Yixuan “Heather” Li also is a participant in
the MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge.
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Centre Country Gazette
November 13, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK — When looking to conceptualize an idea and start one’s own business, there
are many unknown resources in central Pennsylvania.
Global Enterprise Week, set for Sunday, Nov. 16, through Friday, Nov. 21, is designed to
encourage both students and community members to explore the possibility of becoming
entrepreneurs and innovators while working with like-minded individuals through various
events and programs.
GEW started at Penn State in 2009 as a way to further engage students with the Penn State
Small Business Development Center and the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program,
according to the Leslie Demmert with the group.
“Student engagement has always been an important part of both organizations,” Demmert said
of PennTAP and SBDC. “(GEW) fits into the idea of our mission.”
During the event’s first year, there were only 48 participants and they were all students,
Demmert said. In 2013, the event’s fifth year, there were a total of 3,365 participants, including
730 community members, who took part in 46 events on campus and downtown.
To facilitate student engagement, many professors have either canceled class during the week
and required students to attend GEW events or offered it as extra credit, Demmert said. “Much
of the programming is geared toward students, but we hope the community will join us, too.”
This year, there will be more than 60 events put on by about 25 university and community
organizations. Most of the events do take place throughout campus, but some also happen
downtown. All are free to participate in and funded through the Ewing Marion Kauffman
Foundation.
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Since GEW is celebrated throughout the world, with thousands of events that connect
entrepreneurs in different countries, Penn State will be partnering with Middlesex University in
London on a project where eight teams of two students from each school will work together to
solve a hypothetical world problem. Videos of their work will be unveiled on Wednesday, Nov.
19.
In addition to the physical events taking place in the area, there will be five events available
online for people to connect to, including “Is Moving to Silicon Valley Right for You,” a
presentation by Schreyer Honors College. Demmert said she hopes these online programs
attract those enrolled in Penn State World Campus and students from other Penn State
campuses.
Former GEW participants who are Penn State students are becoming more involved in planning
this year, and offering their own programs.
“Global Entrepreneurship Week is honestly one of my favorite things that happens at Penn
State,” said Amelia Friedrichs, a senior public relations major at Penn State. “I've been involved
with this program for two years now, and I'm completely blown away by how it's grown. These
events have the ability to reach any type student of any academic discipline.”
This year, Fredrichs is working on a project called “GEW Selfie Challenge.”
“(It’s) a project designed to familiarize students with entrepreneurial resources available on and
off campus,” she said. “Students often have no concept of the countless tools available for
student use, and our goal is to change that.”
For the challenge, participants are encouraged to find and take a selfie at some of the 17
identified entrepreneurial resources on campus and downtown. Entries will be chosen at
random after GEW and announced on Nov. 21. Winners will get a pizza party with Penn State
President Eric Barron.
“Amelia has been a terrific leader, professional and creative from the start,” Demmert said.
“She came up with the idea and managed her team so the SBDC staff could just sit back and
watch.”
For more information about GEW at Penn State and a complete schedule of events, visit
www.gewpennstate.org.
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Daily Collegian
November 14, 2014
Global Entrepreneurship Week starts next week with a variety of events
By Matthew Fowler |For The Collegian
Next week, students will have the opportunity to come and learn the basics to starting their
own business when a week of speakers and events kicks-off on campus.
Global Entrepreneurship Week will take place on campus from Nov. 16 to Nov. 21 with a
weeklong, jam-packed schedule of various events. Promotional events going on this past week
have been leading up to the main week.
Events will cover a variety of topics and feature speakers from across the country and globe
including innovators, CEOs and professors who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise
from steps on developing ideas, to starting and managing a business to the risks and financials
involved.
“I’m really excited for the Thriving Artist Session,” Marissa Salway, a student who is helping in
the production of GEW week, said.
This three-part session will feature Joe and Christine Abraham, actors from Los Angeles, who
also own multiple businesses from makeup artistry to website development. They will be
discussing with students how to combine artistic endeavors with being entrepreneurial, Salway
(sophomore-public relations) said.
This is just one of many events planned for next week.
GEW is meant for students to acquire “hands-on experience” and to gain “different perspective
or gain knowledge” as well as network with other entrepreneurs, T.J. Inzinna said.
Specialty events such as Wednesday’s events being geared toward women are meant to
encourage more females to enter the predominantly male world of entrepreneurism. The
schedule is tailored so that all majors including engineering, the arts and communication
receive a little bit of everything, Salway said.
“GEW is a good way for students with innovative ideas to share and get their ideas out there,”
Janie Lachman (freshman-accounting) said. “It’s inspiring and allows us students to listen to
presentations by business leaders and hear how they got to where they are.”
The event will feature a whole range of education and entrepreneurship skills can be applied to
almost any job situation an example being knowing how to start up a project for your company,
Inzinna (junior-management) said.
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Penn State already encourages students to be entrepreneurs through the “big support system”
of alumni and the amount of professors in the business college who are willing to listen to
students’ ideas, he said.
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Penn State News
November 18, 2014
PennStatestudents,LondonteammateswinMDX+PSUInnovationChallenge
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State mechanical engineering students Matt Ciarrocca and
Matthew Malencia along with two teammates in London won the MDX+PSU Innovation
Challenge and with it, a paid trip to Croatia for a student entrepreneurship conference in
summer 2015.
Last month, 16 Penn State students were teamed up with 16 students from Middlesex
University in London, and together accepted the three-week MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge.
It’s a new component of Penn State’s events supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week, held
globallyNov. 17-23 and Nov. 16-21 at the University Park campus.
Teams of four were asked to identify a problem within one of four categories — Green
Technology, In the Home, Social Entrepreneurship and Transportation — then to develop a plan
to solve the problem. Each team consisted of two Penn State students and two Middlesex
students, chosen from a group of applicants. The teams were asked to create a three-minute
video explaining the solution.
Ciarrocca and Malencia, both juniors, were paired up with Middlesex students Ogonna
Amukamara and Elena Burykh. According to the team’s video, 95.7 percent of girls in Ghana
miss school while on their periods and one in 10 African girls drop out of school. While Project
Sama and Plan International have provided washable, reusable cloth bags to thousands of
African girls, it wasn’t a long-term sustainable solution.
The students proposed to “empower these girls with the tools they need to take control of their
future by providing them with the resources, money and knowledge it requires to make low-
cost machines to make effective, yet cheap pads for their communities,” Ciarrocca said in the
video. This would be possible by combining homegrown cotton with already-existing
technology developed in India, he said.
Malencia adds in that the group would create a curriculum to teach girls and boys about
puberty, and the pad packaging would include tips on good hygiene practices and the
importance of education, encouraging girls to stay in school.
The students suggest that these efforts would empower girls to finish their education, resulting
in a decrease in child marriages and infant mortality rates and an increase in the economy. Each
student can be seen explaining a component of the problem and solution in the students’
winning video.
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Penn State News
November 20, 2014
StudentsproposeTVshowassolutioninMDX+PSUChallenge
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Two Penn State students -- one a public relations and political science
major, and the other an electrical engineering major -- worked with two teammates from
London and finished second in the MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge as they proposed an
intercultural television education program for children.
Last month, 16 Penn State students were teamed up with 16 students from Middlesex
University in London, and together accepted the three-week MDX+PSU Innovation Challenge.
It’s a new component of Penn State’s events supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week, held
globally Nov. 17-23 and Nov. 16-21 at the University Park campus.
Teams of four were asked to identify a problem within one of four categories -- green
technology, in the home, social entrepreneurship and transportation -- and then develop a plan
to solve the problem. Each team consisted of two Penn State students and two Middlesex
students, chosen from a group of applicants. The teams were asked to create a three-minute
video explaining the solution.
The quartet that proposed an intercultural TV approach included Penn State public relations
and political science major Penn Staters Yixuan (Heather) Li and electrical engineering major
Brandon Leshchinskiy. Their partners from Middlesex University were Angieszka Pacholczak and
Anuwat Rattanaphan.
Their proposal focused on an innovative, intercultural TV show as a way to eliminate cultural
biases and ignorance, and to better prepare people for collaboration and success in an ever-
globalized workplace. According to the students’ proposal, cultural ignorance limits morale and
productivity, and even impacts health care in situations when patients and providers do not
understand each other.
Additionally, while educational curriculum changes and study-abroad options attempt to
address the situation, they believe that’s only part of a solution.
They envision a TV show focused on elementary-school age children as a way to allow young
viewers to experience new cultures vicariously -- with a key component of the show being brief
exchanges as families from across the world live in each other’s communities.
The students believe the TV show could be enhanced by social media and serve as a “launchpad
for cultural engagement,” thereby enhancing cultural understanding and providing a base on
which to build intercultural success for decades.
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Penn State News
November 21, 2014
Biobehavioralhealthstudentsshareinsight,workatEngagedScholarshipExpo
Marjorie S. Miller
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Two students in the Department of Biobehavioral Health (BBH) gave
presentations Nov. 17 at Penn State’s Engaged Scholarship Expo in the HUB-Robeson Center on
the University Park campus as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The expo, in its second year, brings together faculty, staff and students to share engaged
scholarship experiences, opportunities and inspiration. Undergraduate students, graduate
students, faculty and staff are encouraged to experience how engaged scholarship — out-of-
classroom academic experiences that complement classroom learning — can change the future
and the perception of education.
Paul Girgis, a senior BBH student minoring in engineering entrepreneurship, shared his journey
as a pre-medical student who ultimately decided to study entrepreneurship.
“It was almost a ‘coming of age’ presentation,” Girgis said.
Girgis’ story focused on how he ultimately dropped pre-med courses, got an internship
at Workshop Chicago, in Chicago, Illinois, and now is minoring in entrepreneurship and
interning at New Leaf Initiative in State College.
“Looking forward to the future, I hope to explore my interests in the business setting,” Girgis
said. “At the expo, I got to hear from, and talk to, some absolutely incredible undergrad
students from across the Commonwealth Campuses. Several people studied abroad and had
fantastic research and community-engaging projects. I also met another student who I will
share an African Community Development class with next semester because of the expo.”
Eden Araya, a junior BBH student, presented “Conversations that Matter,” about her work at
World in Conversation (WinC) at Penn State, where she is a facilitator on the global dialogues
team connecting people in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Poland, the Netherlands, China and other
places.
“I chose this as my engaged scholarship opportunity because it is leading me to be more
culturally competent and gain skills in facilitation, molding me as a leader,” she said. “I love
working at WinC because it allows me to explore about the ways we are impacted by the world
around us. We have conversations about race relations, climate and west-middle east exchange
dialogues. My future goals are in working in the research fields specifically looking at race
health disparities.”
Eden said the expo helped her further realize the importance of the work she does.
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“I hope to share my research in the future with those around the world but I would also love to
make a true impact,” she said. “At the Engaged Scholarship Expo I recognized, all over again,
that conflict is not a bad thing; it is something that can lead collaboration across cultures and
people. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have shared the work I am currently doing
with more people at Penn State.”
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Leaflet (New Leaf Initiative Newsletter)
November 21, 2014
"Featured (above) are participants from "Share Your Passion, Share Your Story", one of the six
Global Entrepreneurship Week events we hosted this week. The knowledge and skills students
learned include how to better work as a team, get funding to act on ideas, and create
connection through stories. With over 150 GEW participants coming through our space in just
three days, it was delightfully rowdy at times. We thank our members for indulging the
excitement."
