NEW VENTURE CHALLENGE CELEBRATES THE SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Here are the 2004 grand prize winners, whose hard work and ingenuity earned their companies $15,000 cash and $4,000 in in-kind contributions.

Eco-Solutions, Inc. took the undergraduate grand prize. The company proposes to solve Florida's melaleuca tree problem by collecting and selling melaleuca mulch ("MelaMulch") and collecting the leaves of the harvested melaleuca to produce tea tree oil. Charles Bowden, BS, served as team leader and team member was Dale Andrew Silvia, BBA.

Grand Prize Winners: Undergraduate Level

Eco-Solutions, Inc.

Florida International University
Eco-Solutions Team Leader: Charles Bowden
Team Members: Dale Andrew Silvia

UniversityPlacementServices.com-a company dedicated to offering international students complete and detailed process in information services concerning all aspects of the university admissions the United States-won the grad prize at the graduate level.

Grand Prize Winners: Graduate Level

UniversityPlacementServices.com

Florida International University
UniversityPlacementServices.com Team Leader: Jose Alvarez
Team Members: Alba Nunez, Michael Reyeros, Omar Valdes, Alejandro Cano

First Runner-Up

Gladys-T Porto Alegre

ORT Universidad, Uruguay
Gladys-T Porto Alegre Team Leader: Elianne Hecht
Team Members: Rosina Guisande, Andres Buela

Second Runner-Up

Les Bagatelles

Florida International University
Les Bagatelles Team Leader: Lindsay Thomas
Team Members: Alexander Riera, Julieth Cure, Anne-Christine Lenquette

The $5,000 prototype award went to Dirtyboi, Inc. for its prototype of an automobile/motorcycle rim that illuminates while in motion. Team member was Moe Sadeek.