Cait Hopkinson, a senior at Manasquan Substantial School, received a comprehensive, four-12 months tuition scholarship to Rider University in the 2022 Norm Brodsky Enterprise Thought Levels of competition.
On. Jan 29, she introduced her organization plan — an air-fried doughnut store — to a panel of judges in the once-a-year opposition.
“I hardly ever imagined I would come out on top and be the large winner, but the sensation is thoughts blowing and is even now so surreal,” Hopkinson says. “Profitable this scholarship aided reduce a lot of anxiety in figuring out all of the financials for higher education.”
Hopkinson worked on her business enterprise concept, AIR Fried & Frosted, in an entrepreneurship course at university. She preferred to create a more healthy spin on a breakfast beloved, using an air fryer relatively than the classic strategy of frying doughnuts in oil. Element of her small business design also incorporates gluten-cost-free and dairy-absolutely free options. She has even established her have prototypes at house.
When she learned about the scholarship levels of competition, she realized she had to enter.
“I went in pondering it was a perfect option and an perfect way to get practical experience irrespective of the end result,” she states.
Passionate about her organization thought, Hopkinson hopes to convey it to daily life in the foreseeable future. At Rider, she plans to research accounting with an emphasis on fraud and business enterprise forensics.
Rider’s annual Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition challenges superior faculty college students to establish an ground breaking enterprise thought and present it in entrance of a panel of judges, Shark Tank style. This year’s finale judges ended up Monthly bill Cunningham of Encompass Media, Joe Lopez of the Unheard of Unique Foundation and Lisa Train ’02, ’09, adjunct professor for the Norm Brodsky University of Organization.
Held almost this 12 months in mild of a winter season storm, 5 seniors competed for the top rated prize of a entire, four-year scholarship, although 5 juniors and sophomores competed for money prizes and the prospect to routinely be entered into the senior level of competition when suitable.
Rider obtained additional than 300 submissions for this year’s levels of competition. Candidates were being required to submit a short summary of their small business notion, which went through two rounds of critique by a team of judges, in advance of becoming narrowed down to the 10 finalists.
Other winners bundled: Denver Edwards of Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan (second area, senior division) Thomas Wright of Scotch Plains-Fanwood Superior University (3rd location, senior division) Sofia Ruvo of Park Ridge Large Faculty (first location, sophomore/junior division, and automatic entry into the senior division subsequent calendar year) Lola Cantillon of Newark Academy (second spot, sophomore/junior division) and Brianna Fazi of Park Ridge Substantial Faculty (third place, sophomore/junior division).
“We are unbelievably proud to welcome Cait to Rider,” states Lora Hudicka, director of Rider’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies. “All the judges and I had been motivated by her passion and budding organization acumen. We simply cannot hold out to see how she thrives at Rider and proceeds to embrace her entrepreneurial spirit.”
The level of competition is sponsored by husband and wife Norm Brodsky ’64 and Elaine Brodsky. Norm, a extensive-time entrepreneur who is the namesake of Rider’s Norm Brodsky University of Company, founded eight thriving companies, such as Citi Storage, the premier privately owned archive business enterprise in the state. He also heartily thinks that anyone, no matter of marketplace or career title, can advantage from an entrepreneurial mindset. This way of thinking is recognizable through the College’s 40 undergraduate and graduate applications, minors and certificates.
