OXFORD, Miss. – Students at the University of Mississippi
have an opportunity to be on the cusp of the next big
business idea with the Gillespie Business Plan Competition,
sponsored by the School of Business Administration.
The contest, in its fourth year, is open to any UM student,
regardless of major, and carries prize money. The
competition includes two divisions, with prizes of $5,000
at stake for the best business plan and the best business
concept.
Deadline for the competition is 5 p.m. Friday (March 28),
when a two-page executive summary must be e-mailed to
jholleman@bus.olemiss.edu. Twenty semifinalists are to be
announced April 2. On April 10, the semifinalists give
five-minute pitches to judges, and six finalists are to be
selected. On April 24, finalists present their in-depth
plans to judges and winners are chosen.
“The Gillespie Business Plan Competition is a natural
outcome of the instructional work taking place in the Ole
Miss School of Business,” said John Holleman, director of
corporate relations and MBA services. “Because our
undergraduate and graduate programs emphasize
entrepreneurial thinking about the key role of the
entrepreneur in our economy, the competition is an
important element of our overall curriculum.”
Since business school students are expected to know how to
write a business plan upon graduation, the contest is an
excellent way for them to hone their skills.
“Participating in the Gillespie Business Plan Competitions
provides students with invaluable experience in building
their skill-set in the tools needed to start a new business
enterprise,” Holleman said. “The faculty in the School of
Business Administration recognize that they have an
important role in graduating students who possess
entrepreneurial skills. The Gillespie Business Plan
Competitions provides our students with an opportunity to
have substantial real-world experience in developing a
viable business venture.”
Although students can submit only one business plan, they
are allowed to compete as a team of up to 12 members. It is
also possible for one person to win both categories.
“The Gillespie business plan competition allows students
hands-on experience to apply knowledge,” said Ken Cyree,
interim business school dean. “It is a very valuable part
of education and positions our students in a solid
competitive position, and it also allows budding
entrepreneurs to gain insight into what will make them
successful in the future.”
The endowment for the competition was provided in honor of
Edwin C. Gillespie, a 1943 business administration
graduate. His widow, Jean Gillespie, and brother, Joe
Gillespie, a 1950 liberal arts graduate, helped establish
the endowment to assist students in promoting concepts in
entrepreneurship.
For more information, call 662-915-6708 or visit