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Four UNT students win Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship’s IDEA Contest
DENTON (UNT), Texas – The University of North Texas' Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship hosted its first IDEA contest last month. The contest was open to all UNT students and required participants to submit an innovative idea in 250 words or less. According to the center's director, Dr. Tony Mendes, the contest was intended to inspire students in all disciplines to think outside of the box. Twelve finalists presented their ideas to a panel of judges from the local business community and four winners were selected. The each winner received a $250 prize and time with the judges to work on developing his or her idea. The center plans to host the contest again during the spring semester. The Fall 2009 winners were:
Diana Castaneda (Fort Worth)
Castaneda is a senior general studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her idea is to sell bottles of Dee's Coquito, a Puerto Rican eggnog that she adapted from an old family recipe. Castaneda has already tested the idea by bottling the eggnog for family and friends during the holidays. Castaned's goal is to produce 150 bottles of this private-label liquor this holiday season to pay for her last semester of college.
Austin Maddox (Austin)
Maddox is a junior undeclared business major in the College of Business. He proposed developing Power Mats that could be located along the base of walls and would make it easier for anyone to access electrical outlets. The concept utilizes current technology to replace antiquated electrical outlets. While the technology needs further development, the judges felt that the features of easy access and safety warrant further research and testing.
Brittany Mata (Kennedale)
Mata is a sophomore pre-journalism major in the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism. Her idea is to establish a company that would manufacture biodegradable, molded caskets designed to meet the needs and wishes of different lifestyles. The company would be named Ashes to Ashes. While traditional cemeteries embalm and use caskets that create a toxic legacy, the Ashes to Ashes caskets would be made of molded recycled materials that are environmentally friendly.
Matthew Thunem (Flower Mound)
Thunem is a senior entrepreneurship major in the College of Business. His winning idea is for a new Thanksgiving-themed concession stand at the Texas State Fair that would feature unique products such as Deep Fried Pumpkin Pie and Turkey Dinner Balls on a stick. Thunem proposed that the popularity of these products could lead to additional stands at state fairs across the U.S. and the manufacture of frozen products available in the frozen food sections of grocery stores. Visit the Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship website for more information. For more information on the Fall 2009 Idea Contest and its contestants contact Debbi Stack at 940-565-2848 or Debbi.Stack@unt.edu.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Alyssa Yancey (940) 565-3510
Email: Alyssa.aber@unt.edu
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