Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

4/20/07
Story by Peggy Graham

JCCC Student Wins Award for  Flipping Houses  Idea

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Johnson County Community College student Alissa Blake won a $500 cash prize and $500 scholarship to Wichita State University for a business plan to flip houses in Prairie Village, where she is a resident. Blake received the award April 10 when the Center for Entrepreneurship and the W. Frank Barton School of Business at WSU held its first-ever Kansas Community College Business Plan Challenge.

"Alissa had done her research on the market and had good solid figures and a thorough business plan,"  said Barbara Millard, assistant professor, entrepreneurship, who sponsored Blake in the contest.

Blake is a student in the JCCC business administration program and already has earned a JCCC entrepreneurship certificate that includes completing a FastTrac Business Plan class. Her 25-page business plan is about flipping houses, which refers to buying homes, renovating them and selling them for a profit.

Blake says that entering the competition helped her polish and refine her plan. She wants to get more experience with buying and selling homes before she starts her business.

"The houses in Prairie Village have so much charm and character, and it's a tight-knit community," Blake said. "But houses are getting older, and they shouldn't be left to deteriorate."