Oct. 5, 2016
Shark Tank Gives High Schoolers a Chance to Win $12,000 in Scholarships
About 50 area high schoolers will take a plunge in the CWU Shark Tank on Saturday in the SURC for a chance to win $12,000 in scholarships.
The Shark Tank Simulation, sponsored by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I4IE) in the CWU College of Business, is an annual event where juniors and seniors pitch ideas to a panel of “sharks.” It is inspired by the ABC reality TV series Shark Tank.
Competitors will be divided into teams and, under the guidance of CWU student mentors, design, produce, and market a product prototype. Then they will present their product to a panel of judges, aka the sharks.
“This gives high school students a feel for entrepreneurism and the fun side of business,” said Professor Bill Provaznik, director of the I4IE. “Plus it emphasizes the importance of teamwork, deadlines, and presentation skills.”
Saturday’s event also features campus tours, an overview of the College of Business and its programs, and a meet-and-greet with faculty and advisors.
The I4IE is a hub for greater learning, resources and infrastructure, and innovation and entrepreneurial activities in the Kittitas Valley and central Washington communities. The institute also sponsors innovation competitions for college students, including one that helped launch a new microbrewery in Kittitas.
Media contact: Barb Arnott, CWU Public Affairs, 509-963-2841, Barb.Arnott@cwu.edu
October 4, 2016