The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah is excited to announce that the 2017 High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge (HS UEC) competition registration is now open. All students throughout Utah, ages 14-18, are welcome to compete for a chance to win $30,000 in cash and scholarships. The competition is sponsored by Zions Bank.
Students can enter the competition by submitting their ideas online. Submissions are due by March 1, and the awards ceremony will be held at the U in the new Lassonde Studios building on April 15.
“Simply by recognizing a problem and coming up with a creative solution, competitors in the High School Utah Entrepreneurship Challenge will gain a hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and be introduced to a nationally ranked program. It’s a valuable experience for anyone wanting to make an impact for the better,” said Eden Renee Wairepo, a student leader on the HS UEC team.
HS UEC is designed to be a fun way for high school students to explore innovation and entrepreneurship. The competition focuses on problem-solving and the first steps in developing a business idea.
Students who already have a product or business idea are encouraged to compete, but this competition is not just for them. High school students across the state are challenged to think of a solution to any problem they may see globally, locally or individually, and then propose the solution in the form of a business idea. Students are encouraged to be as creative as possible.
To participate, students form teams, develop an innovative idea and submit a presentation online to be judged for the first round. Twenty-four finalist teams will be announced on March 16. Those teams will be invited to the final HS UEC event alongside with the collegiate Utah Entrepreneurship Challenge for presentations and judging. HS UEC is the high school counterpart to the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, which is also managed by the Lassonde Institute and one of the largest collegiate business plan competitions in the country.
HS UEC is part of the continued growth of programs and opportunities provided by the Lassonde Institute to support student entrepreneurs.
Learn more about the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge at lassonde.utah.edu/hsuec.
Download photos and other resources to use with this news here: lassonde.utah.edu/hsuec/marketing-resources.
About the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge
The High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge (HS UEC) is designed to encourage high school students to explore innovation and entrepreneurship and offers over $30,000 in cash and scholarship prizes. HS UEC is the high school version of the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, one of the largest collegiate competitions in the country. Utah is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, and we believe some of the best ideas come from teens across the state. All high school students (or those ages 14-18) throughout Utah are encouraged to compete. Students ages 14-18 who have graduated high school or are enrolled full-time in college courses (9 credit hours or above) are not eligible to participate in the competition. These students are encouraged to participate in the collegiate Opportunity Quest and Utah Entrepreneur Challenge also hosted by the Lassonde Institute. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu/hsuec.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. The first programs were offered in 2001, through the vision and support of Pierre Lassonde, an alumnus of the Eccles School and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include workshops, networking events, business-plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, graduate seminars, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Institute also manages the Lassonde Studios, a new $45 million innovation space and housing facility for all students. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.
