HARRISBURG, Penn.–PSECU is underwriting the $10,000 prize that will be awarded today as part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education State System Startup Challenge.
The award will be made during a ceremony that will be conducted via Zoom.
The challenge, now in its ninth year—it was previously dubbed the Business Plan Competition--is an opportunity for students attending one of the State System’s 14 universities to compete for prize money that can assist them in making their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur come true.
“The students who participate in the State System Startup Challenge are innovators. They’ve put the education they received through Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education to work, they’ve harnessed their creativity and professional drive, and they’ve used their collective skill sets to come up with business ideas that can have positive impacts for themselves and others around them,” said Barb Bowker, PSECU vice president of marketing and membership development and chair of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation. “PSECU’s story is similar. Eighty-five years ago our 22 founders started the credit union in hopes of creating a better life for themselves and others in the community. From their innovation, and the $90 they pooled, we’ve grown to become Pennsylvania’s largest credit union, and we’re honored to continue their people helping people philosophy by supporting this year’s challenge.”
‘Imagination’ Recommended
As part of the State System Startup Challenge, “All competitors are encouraged to use their imagination to create their best business ideas. Each university has faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing personal attention to students’ ideas to prepare them for launch in today’s marketplace. A team of judges reviews the submissions, and the finalists, as well as all of the competitors, are recognized at an awards ceremony.”
According to PSECU, during a Zoom gathering immediately preceding the awards ceremony, the finalists, who hail from California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, and Kutztown, will participate in a project presentation session. Later, during the awards event, first-, second-, and third-place prizes will be announced. The winner of the State System Startup Challenge will receive a $10,000 prize from PSECU.
PSECU Manager is a Judge
PSECU Senior Business Development Manager Michelle James is serving as a judge for this year’s State System Startup Challenge.
“Talented and innovative students from across Pennsylvania have put forth many impressive entries as part of this year’s State System Startup Challenge. It’s not going to be easy to select a winner,” James said. “I’m so excited and honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the challenge as a judge and to be a part of the valuable experience it offers students. On behalf of PSECU, I’d like to applaud all of the challenge’s participants on their efforts and wish them the best of luck.”