2008 Woodie Awards
New program fosters young entrepreneurs
Community floor in Miller Hall encourages creativity in business
Jen Burn
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: News
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Sixteen first year students have been chosen to participate in a four-year-entrepreneurial program new to Trinity this year. An innovative proposal of three distinguished professors on campus, the plan for the entrepreneurial hall has been in the works for the past four years. Mahbub Uddin, chair of the Engineering Department, L. Brooks Hill, chair of the Department of Speech and Drama and Dan Walz, chair of the Department of Business Administration, developed the program around the idea of creating a place for creativity to flourish.
The entrepreneurial floor combines the ideas of science, technology, business, social sciences, and humanities in order to mold creative entrepreneurs.
Senior and Resident Mentor Ron Fortin said, "In addition to living on a hall with the 15 other students, each student is required to take the First Year Seminar titled 'Creativity and Entrepreneurial Behavior.'"
Fortin added that the thought behind the program deals largely with creativity being underappreciated in the institutional academic world today.
"In order to counter that philosophy," Fortin said, "they are awakening creativity and channeling that through an entrepreneur program, because that is the future of the world in terms of the best entrepreneurs."
Fortin serves as the resident mentor for the hall, which is located on Miller First. Upon arrival at Trinity's campus in 2005, Fortin approached multiple professors about becoming involved in different entrepreneurial ventures. Due to his apparent interest, faculty members were quick to speak to Fortin about serving as resident mentor for the new hall.
The 16 students, 15 first years and one sophomore transfer student, were hand chosen for the program by Uddin, Walz and Hill based on personal qualities, ethnic diversity and an essay. According to Uddin, the hope is that the students will not only remain together for the next four years, but beyond college, where they may start their own business.
According to Uddin, the program is limited to 16 students in order to prevent the first year seminar from becoming too large.
The entrepreneurial floor combines the ideas of science, technology, business, social sciences, and humanities in order to mold creative entrepreneurs.
Senior and Resident Mentor Ron Fortin said, "In addition to living on a hall with the 15 other students, each student is required to take the First Year Seminar titled 'Creativity and Entrepreneurial Behavior.'"
Fortin added that the thought behind the program deals largely with creativity being underappreciated in the institutional academic world today.
"In order to counter that philosophy," Fortin said, "they are awakening creativity and channeling that through an entrepreneur program, because that is the future of the world in terms of the best entrepreneurs."
Fortin serves as the resident mentor for the hall, which is located on Miller First. Upon arrival at Trinity's campus in 2005, Fortin approached multiple professors about becoming involved in different entrepreneurial ventures. Due to his apparent interest, faculty members were quick to speak to Fortin about serving as resident mentor for the new hall.
The 16 students, 15 first years and one sophomore transfer student, were hand chosen for the program by Uddin, Walz and Hill based on personal qualities, ethnic diversity and an essay. According to Uddin, the hope is that the students will not only remain together for the next four years, but beyond college, where they may start their own business.
According to Uddin, the program is limited to 16 students in order to prevent the first year seminar from becoming too large.
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