02/24/10

Story by Peggy Graham

JCCC entrepreneurship students win first prize at K-State

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - A four-student team from the Johnson County Community College entrepreneurship program won first prize in the Business Ethics Case hosted by Kansas State University's Students in Free Enterprise organization Feb. 18-20 in Manhattan.

The JCCC team was comprised of Kerop Fernandez, Shawnee; Jennifer Meskie and Rebecca McCully, Overland Park; and Damon Tsai, Olathe.

The competition, coordinated by the K-State SIFE team, is funded by Conoco Phillips. Institutional winners were:

first place            JCCC
second place       Texas State University at San Marcos
third place           University of Nebraska at Lincoln
fourth place         Truman State University
fifth place            Kansas State University at Salina

JCCC competed against all four-year schools, winning $2,000.

Teams arrived on Thursday evening and were given the ethics case. On Friday, they prepared their response to the case, and on Saturday morning, presented to a panel of judges - both K-State faculty and representatives of the business community. Each presentation was 19 minutes, with another five minutes for question and answers.

Students In Free Enterprise is a nonprofit organization aimed toward the development of entrepreneurial skills. The organizations provides an opportunity for students to become involved within their community by participating in educational projects that build teamwork, dedication and communication, management, and leadership skills.

Barbara Millard, associate professor, business entrepreneurship, is the JCCC team sponsor.

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