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(Wolfville,
NS) - On Tuesday, March 30, Acadia University honoured
student winners of two entrepreneurial competitions at a unique gala
awards ceremony. Top teams and individuals were awarded for
outstanding presentations while Dr. Gail Dinter-Gottlieb, president
of Acadia, presented the inaugural Acadia University President’s
Award for Entrepreneurship to Kenneth Irving on behalf of the Irving
Group of Companies. The evening was highlighted by Maritime
singer/songwriter, Terry Kelly.
“The ARTCC was a
remarkable success,” says Conor Vibert, a business professor at
Acadia University and coordinator of the ARTCC. “Over $20,000 was
raised for student bursaries and research assistantships from
corporate sponsors. As a result, the financial picture for at least
30 Acadia students will be a little brighter today and in the next
few months.”
The two competitions –
the Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ACSBE)
Student Entrepreneurial Research Competition and Acadia Real Time
Case Competition (the ARTCC which was hosted by the Fred. C. Manning
School of Business) – ran simultaneously for the first time in
Acadia’s history. Both promote and encourage entrepreneurial
approaches to thinking and dealing with each student’s particular
field of study.
“The Student
Entrepreneurial Research Competition supports Acadia’s broad
definition of entrepreneurship,” says Chris Pelham, executive
director of ACSBE. “Entrepreneurship is a mind set and way of life
rather than a specific outcome.”
Winners of the ARTCC
were Bill McClure, Jonathan English, Ryan Sulley, and Jonathan
Chase. Winners of the Student Entrepreneurial Research Competition
included Peter Menzies (Gold), Jesse Zink (Silver), Dave Verhulst
(Silver), Gus Webb (Bronze), Sandi MacPherson (Bronze), and Tina
Peng (Bronze).
During the evening, a
special award was given to the Irving Group of Companies by Dr.
Dinter-Gottlieb. The Acadia University President’s Award for
Entrepreneurship recognizes an individual or organization that
demonstrates exemplary entrepreneurial leadership. Kenneth Irving,
CEO of Irving Oil Ltd., was at the awards ceremony to accept the
award along with his father, Arthur.
“The President’s Award
makes a strong statement about the importance of the development of
entrepreneurial skills at Acadia,” says Pelham. “It captures our
value statement with regard to entrepreneurship.”
The finale of the
eventful evening was keynote speaker, Terry Kelly. Through his
unique intertwining of motivational words and music, including his
song The Power of the Dream, the audience was challenged to embrace
challenges and obstacles in life.
Winners of the two
competitions received cash prizes which were donated by 18 corporate
sponsors for the ARTCC and 18 sponsors for the Student
Entrepreneurial Research Competition.
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