Earlier this year, the man who is responsible for the MasterCard “Priceless” advertising campaign issued an interesting challenge to prospective University of New Haven business students.
Four people who entered his Facebook campaign and impressed him with their entrepreneurial idea would win free tuition for your undergraduate degree.
Lawrence Flanagan, executive dean of the college, asked participants to create a Facebook page for a business they wish to launch, define what the business is, what it does, why it is unique, why it is needed and how it will be positioned to achieve and sustain long-term success.
Four winners have been chosen and will receive full-tuition scholarships for four years, which is worth more than $120,000 for each.
“The competition has attracted attention from all over the country and resulted in more than 100 entries,” Lawrence Flanagan, executive dean of the college, said in a statement. “The winners have outstanding ideas and clearly demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that is a cornerstone of the business program at the University of New Haven.”
John-Paul DiTommaso, of Farmington, created Turf-Guise, which would treat artificial turf so it would smell like real grass and include an anti-bacterial agent to kill germs. He plans to major in management at UNH.
Daniel Kiley, of Ansonia, designed the “Ultimate Sports Complex and Resort,” a 24-hour facility that would be the “Disneyland of sports” with indoor and outdoor facilities for hockey, basketball, bowling, track and other sports, and feature more than 1,000 rooms in an adjacent hotel. Kiley plans to major in sports management.
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Jacob Stevenson, of Waldoboro, Maine, is behind Algae Innovations, which would provide a less expensive, green alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel by using a fuel developed from algae. The product could be used in either gasoline or diesel vehicles without modifications. Stevenson plans to major in management as well.
Frank Dipadua, of Spencer, Massachusetts, proposed “Cards for Causes,” would allow an individual to contribute online to a charitable cause, such as a children’s hospital or veteran’s organization, and then type out a message and select someone to receive it. The company would prepare and deliver a handwritten card. Dipadua will be an undecided business major.
Twenty iPads and 40 $250 gift certificates to the UNH Bookstore were also awarded to the runners-up in the competition.
