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Distributed April 13, 2004
Contact Kristen Cole

Philanthropist and cable news pioneer Ted Turner will be honored May 1, 2004, at 5 p.m. at the conclusion of a two-day Entrepreneurial Extravaganza that invites aspiring entrepreneurs from East Coast colleges and universities to compete for cash. The event is a joint collaboration by Brown University and Bryant College.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Philanthropist Ted Turner will receive the inaugural Lifetime Achievement in Entrepreneurship Award at the conclusion of a two-day event that invites aspiring undergraduate entrepreneurs from nearly a dozen colleges and universities along the East Coast to compete for $25,000 in cash and prizes.

The Entrepreneurship Extravaganza, April 30 and May 1, 2004, includes a keynote address by David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airlines; a two-minute speech competition; a case study competition; and an entrepreneurs’ boot camp. The event is co-sponsored by the Brown University and Bryant College entrepreneurship programs, and activities will take place on both campuses.

This is the second annual Entrepreneurship Extravaganza. Last year, the event drew students from Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Rhode Island School of Design, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and Yale University.

For additional information about events at Bryant College, contact Renee Buisson, director of college relations, at (401) 232-6120. Students who wish to participate in Entrepreneurship Extravaganza events must register at www.epextravaganza.com.

Friday, April 30
Bryant College, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, R.I.

1 p.m. The Case Study Competition at the George E. Bello Center
Teams of three to four students each will be receive a case study about a company facing problems and must analyze the case in an hour. Each team will have 10 minutes to present their solutions to judges. Teams will be eliminated throughout the afternoon; the last five teams remaining will compete for cash prizes Saturday on the Brown campus.

4 p.m. Elevator Speech Competition at the George E. Bello Center
A panel of three judges – including a finalist from the television show “The Apprentice” – will decide among business ideas presented to them in a speech competition. Amelia “Amy” Henry, one of the contestants who competed on a televised show for a job with Donald Trump, will serve as a judge along with David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airlines, and Chad Moutray, chief economist of the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. Each student will have two minutes to attempt to persuade the panel in favor of a business idea, and the judges will have an additional two minutes to question students about the idea.

6 p.m. Keynote address at the George E. Bello Center
David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airlines will deliver a speech titled “The Sky’s the Limit.”

Saturday, May 1
Brown University, Pembroke Campus, Providence

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Entrepreneurs’ Boot Camp
Eight sessions led by business professionals will focus on educating and promoting the skills and passion needed to be a successful entrepreneur. Topics include common issues faced by entrepreneurs who are developing a business venture, including assessing the competition; what are the next ‘big’ ideas; the art of negotiation; how to find the right people; and getting inside an investor’s mind.

2 – 3:30 p.m. Case Study Competition at Alumnae Hall
The final round in the Case Study Competition. Three wining teams will take home cash and prizes.

5 p.m. Ted Turner at Alumnae Hall
Ted Turner will receive the lifetime achievement award and will speak to participants.

Entrepreneurship Extravaganza Co-sponsors

The Brown University Entrepreneurship Program is a non-profit, student-run organization that receives guidance from an advisory board consisting of entrepreneurs. The program’s mission is to support entrepreneurial learning among Brown students, enable and encourage students to create innovative ventures, and create a closely knit entrepreneurial community of Brown students, faculty, administrators, alumni and friends.

The mission of the Bryant College Global Entrepreneurship Program is to develop outstanding global business leaders who will create successful entrepreneurial ventures, stimulate entrepreneurial risk-taking and creativity.

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