Students in Free Enterprise Sponsorship

-Top four regional finisher in six of the last seven years; 1999 and 2000 Regional Champions.

The Graceland SIFE team has had a tremendous impact on the regional community.  Not only are they the “footsoldiers” of the Center – assisting and leading projects ranging from the Roundtable to the development of the web page, but they also conduct Junior Achievement classes in the local schools, act as mentors to at-risk high school students, conduct pro bono consulting for local businesses, and have given fourteen local companies a web presence.  Their Internet site is a LookSmart editor’s choice award winner.
 

Entrepreneurial Roundtable

Bringing together successful speakers, entrepreneurs, business professionals, high school and college students, this free-to-the-public event develops the critical mass necessary for economic development through new business start-ups.
 

Fall Burn

If the Entrepreneurial Roundtable is the capstone experience for the academic year, then the Fall Burn is the foundation.  Assembling college and university students from three institutions for the first time in the fall, guests were challenged to “Incinerate Limiting Self-Expectations and Accelerate New Possibilities” by two outstanding speakers and entrepreneurial activities.
 

This publication is mailed to 2,500 college and university students, alumni from around the U.S., and businesses in southern Iowa and north-central Missouri. Thanks to a new grant, Spirits will now be mailed to 1,000 Iowa high school students, teachers, and counselors.
 

With a primary target market of high school social studies teachers, this graduate course has been extremely well received in Iowa, and is about to be marketed nationally in its new on-line version.

Two of the great successes during 2000-2001 academic year for the Center have been the institution of a new curriculum in the form of a freshman class and winterterm offering. Taking information from some of Dr. Charles Sandage’s correspondence and the latest entrepreneurial research, five characteristics seem to be evident in successful, entrepreneurially-minded individuals:
 

With a goal of ending the course with a “fundable” business plan, twenty-five Graceland students presented business proposals (including 35-60 page business plans) to three judges on the evening of May 18, 2001. Of the nine ideas presented, two are already entering a start-up phase, two are advancing to a financing stage, and three show definite promise of being real start-ups within two years.

Annual Business Scholarships

The Center oversees the evaluating and distribution of twelve scholarships totaling $10,000 to business students.   Applicants are required to meet stringent academic and leadership criteria, and write essays on the topics of personal career goals and the beauty of the free market.

Sandage Gifted Iowa Entrepreneur Scholarship

In addition to the $10,000 in annual scholarships overseen by the Center, a brand new scholarship was awarded in April to Iowa’s best high school entrepreneur.
 

Angel Start-Up Fund and New Business Development

One of the most exciting new developments at the Center is the award of $100,000 from the USDA for a two-year renewable grant that will establish a low interest revolving seed fund for new business start-ups and a wide range of training programs for potential and existing entrepreneurs.