SU Announces Bernstein Achievement Award Finalists

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University’s 2008 Bernstein Achievement Award is going global.

“For the first time, a plan created by two international students is among the four finalists,” said Dr. Stephen Adams, who teaches entrepreneurship in SU’s Perdue School of Business and is director of the Bernstein Awards. The selected plans also reflect the growing green movement and increasing concern for the Earth.

German exchange students Henry Widera of Berlin, and Tobias Rosenberg of Werl, who are enrolled in SU’s MBA program, together created “Do Your Bit,” an environmentally-friendly recycling business.  Another plan is for “LP Cakery,” an organic cake business designed by junior Leah Shirley of Swan Point, MD, and junior Phil Machado of Ellicott City, MD.

In addition to these two teams, two individual plans were also selected:  “Shore Technologies,” an IT consulting firm developed by senior Todd Bellamy of Delmar, MD, and “Attractive Cheers,” a hair salon created by senior Lisa Hann of Gaithersburg, MD.

The winner will be named at a banquet on Saturday, April 26. The top prize is $5,000.

“All participants should be proud of the hard work and diligence they put in to their plan,” Adams said. “It was difficult for the Perdue School’s Student Development Committee to choose just four business plans out of the 23 submissions we received.”

The Bernstein Achievement Award for Excellence was launched in 1987 by local entrepreneur and SU alumnus Richard Bernstein (’76), founder of BAI Aerosystems, Inc. in Easton and K&L Microwave, Inc. in Salisbury. He created the competition to recognize students who develop original, well-researched and potentially successful proposals for a business startup or for the transformation of an existing business.

The award is designed to encourage and to provide resources for young entrepreneurs to move forward with their visions. SU graduate and undergraduate students in any program of study may participate. Several award winners have gone on to operate successful businesses.

The banquet is preceded by presentations by finalists 2–5:30 p.m. in Room 114 of Holloway Hall. The presentations are free and the public is invited. Then a four member judging committee will select a winner, runner-up and honorable mention to be announced at the banquet.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.