Westminster Entrepreneurship Center students compete in Zingale competition

Eight Westminster College students from the Westminster Entrepreneurship Center participated in the annual Zingale Big Ideas Competition at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., on April 28-29—and three placed among the top 10 finishers.

The Zingale competition is a Shark Tank-like event that aims to help young entrepreneurs make their big ideas a reality. This year’s contest featured 24 teams of 44 students from five different institutions—Allegheny College, Westminster College, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and Robert Morris University. 

From Westminster, Abby Cannon, a junior business administration major from Bethal Park, Pa., earned the first placed finish for her Best Small Business Concept titled “Abby’s Arch.” The team of Brianna Dunlap, a senior individual interdisciplinary major from Canfield, Ohio, and Jonas Clark, a junior accounting major and finance minor from Montgomery Village, Md., finished second for their Best Non-Profit Concept, “Trades Rebuilt.”

Competition awards recognize student entrepreneurs who have new and innovative business ideas, have yet to receive funding and show promise as a successful business venture. The winners shared $32,500 in prize money—Cannon and the Dunlap/Clark team each won $2,000.

Other Westminster students who participated in this year’s competition include: 

Josue Charles, a sophomore business administration major from West Palm Beach, Fla. 

Benjamin Kelly, a first-year marketing and professional sales major and sports management minor from Vineland, Ontario, Canada.

Nathan Stemmerich, a junior business administration major and marketing and professional sale minor from Greensburg, Pa.

Alyjah McHugh, a sophomore business administration major and marketing and professional sales minor from Nashua, N.H.

Michael Petronzio, a senior molecular biology major from Gates Mills Road, Ohio. 

Evan Sanchez, a sophomore engineering physics major from Kennesaw, Ga. 

The Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) offers Westminster students from all majors the opportunity to be exposed to the concept of creation, innovation of ideas and business ownership strategies. 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. 

For more information on the WEC, contact Eric Gaber, lecturer of business, at gaberea@westminster.edu.  

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