Rider Scholarship Is Top Prize In Competition For HS Students

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — High school students have the chance to compete for a full, four-year tuition scholarship to Rider University and other prizes in the 2020 Norm Brodsky Business Concept Competition, the university announced. The competition challenges high school seniors, juniors and sophomores throughout the U.S. to develop a well-rounded, innovative business idea.

Seniors will compete for the grand prize of a full, four-year tuition scholarship, while juniors and sophomores will compete for cash prizes, the chance to automatically be entered into the senior competition when eligible, and a $250 scholarship toward Bronc Tank, a summer enrichment program for entrepreneurship.

Rider will provide transportation and lodging for the senior finalists who come from outside the area.

Last year, Eric Voros won the competition with his business idea — Orion's Belt, a product in which a traditional-looking belt transforms into a tourniquet during emergency situations. Voros is now a freshman global supply chain management major at Rider. Read more here: High School Senior From Burlington County Wins Rider Scholarship

"We're continually impressed with the students' ingenuity and innovation each year," Rider Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Lisa Teach said. "We're anxious to see the types of ideas that students bring to the table in this year's competition."

The competition was developed by alumnus and entrepreneur Norm Brodsky ’64, the namesake of Rider's business school, the Norm Brodsky College of Business. He and his wife, Elaine, pledged $10 million to Rider to support student scholarships for business students and business school projects. Read more here: $10M Gift Is Largest In Rider History

"A full scholarship to college is a life-changing thing for a high school student," Brodsky said. "I credit the education I received at Rider as the reason for much of my business success because it provided a solid understanding of the fundamentals. I want to provide access to the same strong business foundation for the next generation of entrepreneurs."

The top five finalists from each group will present their ideas in front of a panel of judges at Rider University on Jan. 25, 2020.

Any student interested in participating must submit a 400-word description of their product or service at rider.edu/BrodskyCompetition by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2019. For more information, contact Teach at teachli@rider.edu.