Alev Cakmak Wins Entrepreneurship Contest at Wells College

AURORA , NY (04/13/2011)(readMedia)-- Alev Cakmak, a first-year student from Saratoga Springs has taken a first place prize in Wells College's inaugural entrepreneurship contest. The contest was held as part of the College's first Entrepreneurship Week. Wells recently added business and entrepreneurship as a course of study.

Criteria for judging were a mix of qualitative and quantitative assessments. In the for-profit category, students were measured on their business plan, revenue generation, and likelihood of becoming an actual product. In the not-for-profit category, judging criteria included number of people helped, number of people potentially helped, scale of social ill, and likelihood of alleviating social ill. All students were also judged on the quality and passion of their presentations.

"Clearly this first ever entrepreneurship contest at Wells contributed to students' creativity and oral communication skills, two aspects of a liberal arts education that the College emphasizes," says Provost and Dean of the College Leslie Miller-Bernal. "The teamwork also involved collaboration with other students, another helpful aspect of 'lifelong learning' to which Wells College is committed."

The contest elicited 45 participants in its first iteration. The winning teams in two categories, for-profit and not-for-profit, each received a $1000 prize. All participants received a small reward for presenting their creative ideas to an audience estimated at around 100.

Entrepreneurship Week has been made possible, in part, by a gift in memory of Louise Bingham Hatch, Wells College Class of '38, from her family.

The complete list of winners is as follows:

In the not-for-profit category, Jessica Alicea, a first-year student from Salisbury Mills, N.Y, and Melissa Fortin, a first-year student from Alton, N.H., bested six other teams with their concept to fund the SPCA through pet sitting and pet rental for stress reduction at Wells College.

In the for-profit category, Kasia Jandura-Cessna, a first-year student from New Hartford, N.Y., and Alev Cakmak, a first-year student from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., beat five other teams with their development plan for a new training golf club.

Wells College is a nationally recognized private liberal arts college located on the shores of beautiful Cayuga Lake. Founded in 1868 and coeducational since 2005, Wells provides an academically rigorous and relationship-based educational experience strengthened by the College's small size, residential atmosphere, and dedication to experiential learning. The mission of Wells College is to teach students to think critically, reason wisely, and act humanely as they cultivate meaningful lives.

www.wells.edu

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