Windham student a finalist in college’s ‘Elevator Pitch Competition’

GROVE CITY, PA. – Freshman college student Greta Paulding of Windham is a finalist in Grove City College’s Elevator Pitch Competition.

Windham's Greta Paulding, a college
freshman and a 2023 graduate of
Windham High School, is a finalist
in Grove City College's 'Elevator
Pitch Competition' in Pennsylvania.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Grove City College students put their ideas for commercial and social enterprises to the investor test at the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation's 17th annual Elevator Pitch Competition finals on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in Sticht Lecture Hall of the Staley Hall of Arts and Letters on campus. The Elevator Pitch Competition (EPC) provides student entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their ideas to judges in a two-stage contest.

Each student has two minutes, about the time it takes to ride in an elevator with a deep-pocketed investor, to convince the judges that their ideas have merit and potential.

"The Elevator Pitch Competition finals is an amazing culmination of much hard work from these student finalists. I am so excited to hear their pitches and see who rises to the top. Conveying your business idea in two minutes is a difficult task, but one that prepares students for their future and exercises their public speaking skills. The Center for E+I is pleased to present this year's finals, and I hope everyone will consider joining us in person or via livestream to see the results," said Logan Hammerschmitt, Grove City College, Campus Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation.

This year's competition takes place during Global Entrepreneurship Week at the college.

Paulding, who graduated from Windham High School in June, was one of 132 students from 27 different majors registered for the EPC and submitted video pitches for commercial and social enterprises that were evaluated by a team of 63 reviewers in the preliminary round.

Sixteen finalists were selected for the final round in two divisions, including Paulding, a marketing and graphic design student who competed in the Social Enterprise division of the competition.

She pitched an app that encourages community improvements and gives the public a chance to visualize and share their beautification ideas and designs using augmented reality.

A former intern for the Windham Economic Development Corporation, Paulding wants to return to Maine to work as an advocate for infrastructure reform after graduating from college. She also has been offered an opportunity to apply to serve as an intern for U.S. Senator Angus King of Maine in Washington, D.C. after the senator met her during the dedication of Windham’s Wastewater Treatment Plant this past summer.

While in high school, Paulding participated in an Extended Learning Opportunity which allowed her to receive school credit through a civil engineering internship with the WEDC.

“The knowledge I gained helped me to sharpen my view of my future and set my sights on a career I can use to make a difference in my town and beyond,” Paulding said.

Grove City College’s Elevator Pitch Competition pitches will be evaluated by the judges in such areas as need, clarity, achievability, sustainability, and growth. The winners will be announced by the college soon.

Dorene Powell, vice president of the Grove City Foundation, will determine which enterprise wins the Social Impact Prize. The Fan Favorite award will be determined by a vote of the audience, both in person and online.

The EPC is open to students from all majors and ideas may be at any stage of development, from creation of concepts or ideas to an established venture. The goal is to teach students to communicate effectively and allow their charisma and positive characteristics to shine through in just a short pitch. The competition demonstrates the networking and presentation skills essential to any entrepreneur or business professional.

For more about The Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation, visit gccentrepreneurship.com. <