April 2, 2019— Northern Kentucky University will host The Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge (LGEC) on Friday, April 12 in the Otto Budig Theatre.
The Haile/US Bank College of Business’ Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) won the right to host the prestigious event after a competitive bid with other Kentucky post-secondary schools. This summer, NKU will also host the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE), a three-week startup accelerator styled summer program for Kentucky high school students.
“The CIE offers programs and an academic curriculum that ignites a passion for the entrepreneurial mindset,” says Interim Dean, Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer. “CIE fuels innovation by providing students with the resources and education to make their dreams a reality, and supporting programs like the LGEC helps promote this type of thinking at the high school level.”
The LGEC is a statewide pitch competition for high school students, with the goal of introducing students to a realistic business environment, highlighting entrepreneurial values, promoting business ownership and encouraging lifelong learning.
“Someday, a Kentuckian may invent the Next Big Thing. I hope every student who participated in this contest is forever inspired to see opportunities around them,” said Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton.
Each finalist team will have 10 minutes to pitch their business to a panel of judges and answer questions. Teams will be scored by a combination of the following criteria: oral presentation, written business plan and the judges’ deliberations. Finalists will compete for grand prize scholarship money to be used at any in-state post-secondary school or program. The top two teams will be given admission into GSE this summer.
“The Northern Kentucky region prides itself on being an entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages and enables young individuals through support, programming, and academic outlets, such as the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship housed in the Haile/US Bank College of Business. Hosting programs like the Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge reinforces the importance of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset and enabling motivated students to develop their skills in ideation and innovation," said Robert A. Heil, principal, president & CEO, KLH Engineers; chair of the Haile/US Bank College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board; and chair of Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed Economic Development Board
NKU Board of Regents’ Secretary Normand Desmarais, who is also the CEO & co-founder of Entrep, believes that the Northern Kentucky region, in partnership with NKU, remains steadfast advocates of entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Programs such as the Lt. Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge provide a platform for talented high school students residing throughout Kentucky to demonstrate their ideas and gain valuable insights,” Desmarais says.
About the Haile/US Bank College of Business: With more than 2,000 students, the Haile/US Bank College of Business’ goal is to educate and connect with the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati business community by delivering globally relevant, innovative and sustainable programs and practices. The college offers 12 undergraduate degrees and three masters level programs. For more information, visit its website.
###NKU###
