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Westminster students earn awards in Big Idea contest

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Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Three Westminster College students placed among the top 10 finishers of the Zingale Big Idea Competition.

The Shark Tank-like event, hosted virtually by Allegheny College’s Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics, aims to help young entrepreneurs make their big ideas a reality. The competition’s awards recognize student entrepreneurs who have new and innovative business ideas who have yet to receive funding and show promise as a successful business venture.

Westminster’s three award recipients and their business ideas are:

Adam Saunders, GetaGame, third ($3,000); Noah Luzader, Collection Center, Next Big Idea ($1,000); and Doug Salah, The Nxt Dimension, Next Big Idea ($1,000).

“Getting to compete in the competition was a blessing,” said Saunders. “I am so much further with my business plan than I had been just a few weeks ago. Professor Gaber has been a crucial part of helping me organize my ideas and display them clearly. I would not have an entrepreneurial mindset if it weren’t for him and the Westminster Entrepreneur Center. I can’t wait to compete again next year.”

“The Entrepreneurship Center has really been a great tool for me to excel and put my talents to use. It has helped me make my dreams actually attainable,” says Salah.

The three students began the competition by competing against 20 other teams from Westminster and 30 teams overall before advancing to their position as top 10 winners.

“These students worked tirelessly on their respective projects and it’s great to see the fruit of their labors recognized through this competition,” says Eric Gaber, entrepreneur in residence and lecturer within the Westminster College School of Business.

The Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) offers Westminster students from all majors the opportunity to be exposed to concept creation, innovation of ideas and business ownership strategies. These activities are nurtured through practiced entrepreneurial exposures, state-of-the-art facilities, leadership collaboration, dynamic entrepreneurial engagements, competitions and events designed to offer students an unparalleled exposure to real world practical experiences.

Pictured from left are Adam Saunders, Noah Luzader and Doug Salah