February 1, 2010

BCU Invites College Students to Enter Business Competition

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University invites area college students to enter their business ideas in "Swimming with the Sharks," a BCU competition loosely based on the popular reality ABC television program "Shark Tank." Students from area colleges and universities are eligible as long as they are enrolled part-time or full-time and have a designated sponsor from their schools. The entry deadline for "Swimming with the Sharks" is Feb. 26, 2010.

After written submissions are reviewed, the top four finalists will be announced on March 1 and will compete in a live competition at Briar Cliff on March 9, 2010.

A $5,000 prize will be allocated to one, some or all of the four finalists, depending on the quality and viability of the business idea(s). The prize money is stipulated for writing a business plan, seed money to start a new business or to grow a current business on which the plan was based.

The panel of judges consists of Craig Arnold, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce entrepreneur in residence, John Hemmingstad, director of Avalon Capital Group, and Joseph Wright, vice president of technology transfer for The Siouxland Initiative.

Application forms are available at www.briarcliff.edu/sife or by contacting Dr. Judy Thompson, BCU professor of business administration, at judy.thompson@briarcliff.edu or 712-279-5549.

“Swimming with the Sharks” is funded by a grant from the Siouxland Economic Development Corporation and co-sponsored by BCU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Briar Cliff University’s Roth Center for Entrepreneurship.

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 28 states.  Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.

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