Self-starting entrepreneurship week
This week, the Jeffrey D. Clark Entrepreneurship Center is holding its annual week.
Members of the Entrepreneurship Club believe the concept of entrepreneurship is misunderstood and hope to clarify it.
“Entrepreneurship isn’t business. It’s problem solving,” said Spencer Bailey, a senior majoring in international business and the president of the Entrepreneurship Club. “It isn’t just for the businessmen. It’s for the creatives. It’s for the scientists. It’s for the teachers. It’s for the engineers. It’s for everyone.”
Events until now have included a stunt-jump activity and entrepreneur showcase Monday and a free-taco event held in the business building Monday night. During the latter, workshops on the launching of a business were available.
According to members of the Entrepreneurship club, Monday’s activities were a success.
“Their hidden passions and dreams come out,” said Maddie Bustleed, a senior majoring in international business and marketing. “They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, once I wanted to do this,’ or ‘I wanted to start this kind of a business, so I’m totally an entrepreneur.’ Today I think helped show and prove that to students from every college on campus.”
On Tuesday students may observe the “EntrepreneuRace,” a scavenger-hunt competition focused on entrepreneurial and team-focused activities. On Wednesday free hot dogs and information about the Jeffrey D. Clark Entrepreneurship Center will be offered in the TSC fountain area, followed by an address by Peter Huntsman, president, CEO and director of Huntsman Corporation.
“I think the Huntsman family is a great example of entrepreneurship in the state of Utah,” Bailey said. “I’m really excited to hear some of the things that he shares and how he’s been able to keep that entrepreneurial legacy going in his family.”
On Thursday festivities will conclude with the final tasks and finish line of the EntrepreneuRace.
Orlando Porras, a sophomore majoring in graphic design, spoke of his journey from starting out as a graphic design intern with the Jeffrey D. Clark Entrepreneurship Center to eventually joining the Entrepreneurship Club himself and putting the skills he’s gained to use.
“Through my experiences with doing different things with marketing, I learned about entrepreneurship,” Porras said. “Entrepreneurship to me is all about problem solving and thinking outside the box. As a graphic designer I’ve been able to make freelance projects.”
Overall, students with the Jeffrey D. Clark Entrepreneurship Center and the Entrepreneurship Club have one message for USU: Anyone can be an entrepreneur.
“It’s something that anyone can do,” Porras said. “So I think that’s what Entrepreneurship Week really does. It shows people that entrepreneurship is possible while you’re in school and in the future.”
Those who want to know more about Entrepreneurship Week or its schedule can visit http://www.huntsman.usu.edu/eclub/htm/entrepreneurship-week-2015.
— levi.henrie@aggiemail.usu.edu