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UNO Students Earn Prizes at National Entrepreneurship Convention

Hannah Olson

UNO sophomore Hannah Olson was chosen as having the best startup company at this year's Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Convention

OMAHA – The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) College of Business has announced that the school chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), and three individual student members, earned awards at the CEO National Convention, which was held this past weekend in Orlando, Florida.

At this year’s convention, the UNO chapter of CEO received first place for “Best Marketing” out of more than 240 chapters. The program’s recruitment plan, which included emails, visits during New Student Orientation, a freshmen welcome event and new promotional materials is a large part of why one of the nation’s newest chapters has grown to more than 60 active members.

Additionally, Hannah Olson, a UNO sophomore who is doubling majoring in Communications and Entrepreneurship, won Student Startup of the Year for her business “Hannah Caroline Couture.” The business is a fashion design company that specializing in plus sizes. The award, which included a $500 cash prize, follows on the heels of Olson’s win at the 2014 Maverick Business Plan Competition from earlier this year.

The victory also marks the second time in three years a UNO student has won the award. In 2012, UNO alumnus Keith Fix earned the same prize for his video billboard company, Blabfeed.

The weekend was also successful for Rachel Ostrander, a senior majoring in IT Innovation, who won second place and $2,500 in the National CEO Pitch Contest. Her idea, MOOmanager, beat out 58 competitors at this national competition.

Ostrander won the opportunity to pitch her product thanks to winning the 2014 Big Idea! Pitch Contest, which was held in Mammel Hall this fall. The victory earned her $500 and a free trip to the convention. Ostrander also won the Maverick Business Plan Competition in 2013.

Haris Reis, a junior majoring in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, received an honorable mention in the Student Entrepreneur category for his website The Mindset Expert (themindsetexpert.com).

For more information about the UNO College of Business Administration or the UNO CEO program, contact Maureen Falcon, UNO College of Business Administration director of marketing and social media, at 402.554.3852 or mfalcon@unomaha.edu.

About the UNO College of Business Administration
 For more than 60 years, the College of Business Administration (CBA) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has prepared students to become business leaders, presidents of corporations, and CEOs, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Offering 12 business areas of concentration that are in high demand, CBA focuses on a curriculum that offers 2,400 students a balance of academics and applications. Internships, visits from guest speakers, visits to businesses, student club activities, competitions, and project work with profit and non-profit organizations greatly extends the knowledge gained in the classroom.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

 Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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