SEMO students end Global Entrepreneurship Week with innovative ideas

In his YouTube video, Taylor Hartwell makes a bowl, ear muffs and a jump rope out of duct tape.

"Check this out!" he loudly pants as he bounces in a dorm room, swishing through the silvery jump rope. "Ahhhhh! Feel the burn!"

"Owwww, I'm bleeding!" he howls. "Anyone have a Band-Aid? No, but I have duct tape," he answers himself, arms waving wildly.

Hartwell's video did not win him first place or $1,000, but it did earn the biggest laughs Friday during the closing event of Global Entrepreneurship Week at Southeast Missouri State University. On Monday, students had been assigned the challenge of creating value out of the everyday object of duct tape.

The announcement of video winners Friday wrapped up a week of activities, including speakers, panel discussions and workshops. Global entrepreneurship is recognized by millions of people worldwide. This is the first year Southeast participated in the week.

"Making something out of nothing. That's the essence of entrepreneurship and innovation," said Dr. James Stapleton, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Southeast.

For Hartwell, the value of duct tape was comedy. For others, it was monetary or social.

"It got people to think in ways they normally don't. It was a really great way to promote the idea of entrepreneurship," said senior Malia Mondy.

Besides a showing of video contest winners Friday, there was also an unveiling of Southeast's "Start-Up Cafe," a remodeled student lounge where students will be able to use one of two computers to socially network with business-oriented students worldwide.

The winners of the "Imagine It! Innovation Challenge" are listed below. Fifty-eight videos were submitted.

— Greek Social Organization: Team Lambda Chi Alpha, led by Joe Craig. Students suggested using duct tape to cover up logos and the names of Greek organizations to create unity.

— Residence Hall: Team The Jeeps, led by Veselin Georgiev. Students proposed using duct tape in classrooms for experiments to spark interest in math and science.

— Student Body: Team Awesome, led by Eric Kaysinger. Students used duct tape to make cheap Christmas items, such as a stocking and a tree.

— Student Organizations: Team University Players, led by Christina Vitale. Students "went green" by showing how duct tape can be used in environment-friendly ways.

— People's Choice: Team JAC, led by Ashley Woods. Students placed duct tape over their mouths and held signs saying "I'm a listener today" to show support for people battling depression.

"Some students defined value in pretty unique ways," Stapleton said.

Monday's speaker was J. Kim Tucci, co-founder of The Past House Co.; on Tuesday, Don Steen, Missouri's director of agriculture, presented "Growing Entrepreneurs"; on Wednesday, Dr. Kevin Woefel, director of the school of music at the University of Idaho, discussed "Entrepreneurship in the Arts," and a panel of speakers discussed global entrepreneurship Thursday.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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List of winners

The winning teams are listed below, with links to their YouTube videos.

1st place - Greek Social Organization - Team Name: Lambda Chi Alpha, Team Leader: Joe Craig, Sophomore, Pre-Business Major

1st Place - Residence Hall Floor - Team Name: The Jeeps, Team Leader: Veselin Georgiev, Freshman Honors , Computer Science

1st Place - Student Body - Team Name: Awesome, Team Leader: Eric Kaysinger, Junior, Business Management

1st Place - Student Organizations - Team Name: University Players, Team Leader: Christina Vitale, Sophomore Honors, Speech & Theatre Education / Theatre and Dance

1st Place - People's Choice - Team Name: Team JAC, Team Leader: Ashley Woods, Junior, Accounting and Management Information Systems