The 2010 Elevator Pitch Competition Finals lived up to its advance billing as a showcase for some of Champlain's most talented and hard working students. Eighteen students, representing all academic divisions and class years competed as finalists in three categories:

non profit/social advocates, job/internship seekers and entrepreneurs.  

They were competing for a total of $2,700 in cash prizes, compliments of lead sponsor KeyBank and selected by the votes of six celebrity judges. Also up for grabs were three "People's Choice" Awards, based on the votes of the audience, tabulated by "high tech clickers." Winners of these awards won lunches for themselves and friends in the Boardroom Café.

Among this year's nine prize winners were three freshmen: David Gormly (BUS), David Muse (EHS) and Molly Michalenoick (BUS). It is interesting to note that two of the three first place winners were from the EHS Division.

Here are the winners:

Non Profit/Social Advocacy

1. Jenna Londynsky ('11)               EHS         Elementary Education    $500

2. David Gormly ('13)                     BUS         International Business   $300

3. Justine Riegel ('10)                     CCM        Public Relations               $100

4. People's Choice Award:      David Gormly
   
   Job/Internship Seekers  

1. Van Dang ('11)                              BUS         Accounting                      $500

2. Elisha Kottler ('10)                        EHS         Social Work & Business $300

3. Brendan Anson-Pritchard ('11)  BUS         International Business  $100

4. People's Choice Award:      Brendan Anson Pritchard
   
   Entrepreneurs

1. David Muse ('13)                            EHS      Cri minal Justice                  $500

2. Aaron Millet ('12)                           ITS        E-Game Programming      $300

3. Molly Michalenoick (''13)            BUS        Business                             $100

4. People's Choice Award:      Molly Michalenoick

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Champlain College's Bring Your Own Business (BYOBiz) Program and Champlain Career Services present the 4th annual Elevator Pitch Competition on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 8:30 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium. It is sponsored by KeyBank. It is free and open to the public.

The contest requires participating students to give their 90-second "pitch" to an executive (dubbed the "suit") as they ride together in a fictional elevator. There are three categories of competition-entrepreneurs, job/internship seekers, and non-pr

ofit/social advocates. The event is patterned on a national competition which teaches budding entrepreneurs the importance of presenting a "big idea" to an executive as succinctly and convincingly as possible.

The event is open to all students/all majors at Champlain College.  

What's the incentive? First prize is $500, second prize, $300 and third prize, $100.

The annual event receives promotional support from The Burlington Free Press and the Coleman Foundation.

For further information about the Elevator Pitch Competition, www.go.champlain.edu/BYOBiz or contact Bob Bloch, BYOBiz Program (rbloch@champlain.edu, 865-6490) or Pat Boera, Career Services (boerap@champlain.edu, 651-5991).

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Feb. 10 / Elevator Pitch Finalists Announced

All undergraduate professional academic divisions are represented and four freshmen qualified.

These 18 students will compete in the  Finals Competition. Please congratulate them and come out to see them show off their talent. It's Tuesday, Feb 16 at 8:30 PM in Alumni Auditorium.

Non Profit/Social Advocacy
Marissa Bentivoglio (‘10) CCM - Public Relations
Amanda Bryant (‘11) EHS - Elementary Education
David Gormley (‘13) BUS - International Business
Jenna Londynsky (‘11) EHS - Secondary Education
Matthew Naples (‘12) CCM - Game Design
Justine Riegel (‘10) CCM - Public Relations

Job/Internship Seekers
Brendan Anson-Pritchard (‘11) BUS - International Business
Lindsay Damici (‘10) BUS - Marketing
Van Dang (‘11) BUS - Accounting
Elisha Kottler (‘10) EHS - Social Work and Business
Jonathan Potter (‘11) ITS - Computer Information Technology
Emilie Rodgers (‘11) CCM - Game Art

Entrepreneurs
Alessandro Fuchs (‘12) ITS - Computer Networking and Information
Molly Michalenoick (‘13) BUS - Business
Aaron Millet (‘12) ITS - E-Game Programming
David Muse (‘13) EHS - Criminal Justice
Caitlin Pascucci (‘10) BUS - Hotel /Restaurant Management
Rock Vitale (13) BUS - International Business