The Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology cured carnival cravings recently at its annual kickoff in the Wilkinson Center terrace.
“A lot of people outside the business school don’t know of opportunities the Rollins Center provides, but there are so many people who are in science, engineering, music, and other majors who want opportunities,” says Brennan Steiner, a finance major from Smithfield, Utah, who works with the Rollins Center. “We’re here to help them out. That’s why we love putting this on and getting the word out across campus.”
The carnival-style event had booths for the Student Innovator of the Year competition, Humanities to Business club, BYUUXD, BYU Entrepreneurship club, Big Idea Pitch competition, and more. In addition, the kickoff also included ice cream floats, kolaches, popcorn, and games. The booths and events helped students learn more about how they can start their businesses, obtain funding, and identify mentors and advisors.
Megan Wynne, a photography major from New Jersey, came to the event with the idea of starting her own business in the future.
“With photography, having your own business is super common,” Wynne says. “If that is a move I want to take down the road, it’s nice to know the Rollins Center is there to use as a resource.”
Jeff Brown, Rollins Center associate director of operations, was thrilled to see so many students at the kickoff. He believes it is a great first step to create buzz on campus about entrepreneurship and innovation.
“We view our role as a connector, and this event connected students across campus with many great resources,” Brown says. “We hope attendees walked away with a new perspective about entrepreneurship and recognize the value of an entrepreneurial mindset no matter what career they decide to pursue.”
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Writer: Emily Colon