Released November 10, 2009

(Columbia, MD) - The public is invited to join investors, business leaders, research scientists and others for Howard Community College's (HCC) increasingly popular "Entrepreneurial Celebration," where students showcase business ideas and innovations.  The event is Wednesday, December 2, 2009 in The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall 4th floor, with a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. and student presentations beginning at 6 p.m.

There will be two separate presentations.  Students from the “Entrepreneurship & Creativity” course compete in a “rocket marketing” event to pitch their new business ideas within three minutes to a juried panel.  Students in the "Technology Transfer from Invention to Marketplace" course present their analysis of marketplace potential for several new inventions from government-supported research labs such as Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, NASA Goddard, and USDA.   

Many businesses have been launched and inventions commercialized since HCC first began incorporating entrepreneurship into the curriculum.  In addition to noncredit learning opportunities and an innovative credit program in Entrepreneurship Studies, HCC is the home of the Center for Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence (CEBE).  The Center supports students and community members with their small business dreams and development by offering a strategic blend of applied coursework, work experience, and ongoing coaching.  HCC is also the lead institutional partner in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology Assessment Program (TAP) grant that funds the college's unique technology transfer course. 

The event is free and light refreshments will be served.  Past events have drawn a large crowd from the government and business community, so reservations are recommended by calling 443-367-3104.