Issue 19, Volume 122
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Vol Court helps student entrepreneurs strive David Cobb
Assistant News Editor The UT College of Business Administration is nationally respected for training students for success in the commercial world. It ranks 27th nationally among top-tier public universities, according to U.S News. It’s not the only outlet on campus through which students can hone their business skills, though. Starting today, students – even those not pursuing a business degree – have the opportunity to broaden their entrepreneurial skills in a hands-on environment designed to provide an experience differing from what’s found in the classroom. The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is hosting the first of six weekly workshops at 5:15 p.m. today in room 102 of the Haslam Business Building. “This gives you a slightly different perspective,” Tom Graves, operations director for the Anderson Center, said.
“We bring in people from outside the college – people that are practicing in the field. So it’s more hands-on and less theoretical a lot of times than what students encounter in classes.” Tuesday’s hour-long session will touch on how to develop a business model. Drinks and snacks will be provided, but the incentive for attending extends far beyond chips and soda. During the last week of Vol Court, interested students will be able to pitch their business ideas, with the winner pocketing a $1,000 prize and some jumpstarting assistance for their business. Second place receives $500, but Graves said the program is meant to provide more than just the potential of cash prize. “The Anderson Center really has two missions,” Graves said. “One is talent development of people that are interested in entrepreneurship, and the second is to really grow and strengthen and grow the entrepreneurial eco-system
here in the region.” Vol Court brings in professionals to impart knowledge to students and provide feedback on their business ideas. Philosophically, the program will focus on a different aspect of entrepreneurship each week. “Attending Vol Court, even if you don’t want to be an entrepreneur, gives you the foundation to pick up some really important skills,” Graves said. “It’s a really broad education for a very little time. “One hour a week for six weeks that really will broaden your perspectives,” he continued. Jake Rheude, junior in marketing, participated in the program in fall 2011 and won the $1,000 prize with his business model that has since become Somerset Foods, a company specializing in frozen dipping sauces for retail stores. The idea for the company came from his hometown of Cincinnati, where a similar product was sold in grocery stores. But upon arrival in
Knoxville, Rheude noticed that a similar product was not available in retail stores. He is currently working with Pilot with the hopes of getting his product in stores in the coming months, and he counts his experience in Vol Court as valuable in getting his idea off the ground. “We got that first $1,000 and that helped us establish an actual business,” Rheude said. “That was really our first experience presenting this business plan that we had put together … it gives you the ability to get your idea out there and meet the people that can help you.”’ Rheude will be speaking at Vol Court’s second seminar on Feb. 12 about marketing to customers. “You’re put in contact with entrepreneurs, business owners and higher up lecturers,” he said. “It’s the people who really know what they’re talking about. Vincent Walker • The Daily Beacon “They’ll talk directly to you about starting your own busi- Ken Woody speaks during a Vol Court session last semester. ness.”
Matthew DeMaria • The Daily Beacon
Ayres Hall was recently renovated to be more energy efficient. This, combined with several other additions, has earned UT a tenth place spot in the Green Power Partnerships program sponsored by the EPA.
UT named in top tier of green schools Emily DeLanzo
Managing Editor
Blair Kuykendall
Editor-in-Chief UT’s Knoxville campus holds a special place in hearts of Tennesseans as “Big Orange” country, but in the eyes of the Environmental Protection Agency, UT’s gone green. UT took tenth place in the Green Power Partnerships program sponsored by the EPA. This award was based off of three components of environmental preparedness: renewable energy certifications, on-site generation and utility green power products. “As a student, this is something that makes me genuinely proud to be a Volunteer,” Eric Dixon, senior in philosophy, said in a statement. “There’s a clear lesson to be learned from this: sustainability initiatives like this garner positive national attention and are what will actually put UT in the Top 25.”
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This award was primarily the result of recent changes made by the administration based on the encouragement of students and faculty supportive of green initiatives. Specifically, a commission that included students and faculty asked UT to purchase more green energy from the Tennessee Valley Authority. “I served on the administrative committee that made this decision last spring,” Dixon said. “Myself and the other student representatives lobbied the committee to spend the same portion of the green fee fund toward green power when we learned that the TVA’s rates for green power were decreasing. Most if not all of the committee members, including faculty and staff representatives, were in favor of the green power purchase.” Their efforts encouraged UT’s policy makers to switch to more environmentally friendly habits. Nick Alderson, a senior in sustainability and environmental studies, was proud of the university for ground gained in the push
for sustainability. “It’s definitely a great recognition for our school,” Alderson said. “However, the work of reducing our environmental footprint is never finished. There is always something that can be done to lessen the impact we have on our environment.” Several older buildings such as Ayres Hall were renovated recently to lighten energy use. New university construction projects like Min Kao and the Student Health Center are required to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standards. LEED Certification requires buildings to meet a variety of standards like natural lighting, heating and cooling efficiency, and proper insulation. UT is currently updating older buildings to meet similar standards. These renovations and new buildings are paid for by a small fee included in tuition. Within undergraduate tuition scheme, in-state
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students pay 10 dollars while out-of-state students pay 35 dollars for environmentally geared projects. This idea was initiated by a 2005 student referendum. “The Student Environmental Initiatives Fee Committee appropriated the money to pay for the Green Power Purchase,” Alderson said. Aside from renovations, the element that pushed UT into the EPA’s list was the dramatic increase in alternative energy. The TVA created a pilot program to support UT’s green efforts. The program allowed UT to move from taking only four percent of its energy from alternative sources to 32 percent. These alternative energy sources run the gamut from wind to solar power. Alderson sees even greater potential for growth in UT’s sustainable practices. “The next step for green power at UT will be onsite generation,” Alderson said. “Work on a large solar array will hopefully begin within the next year.”
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