CLEMSON, S.C. -- If you are a student at a college, university or technical school and have started your own business, then you have an opportunity to win a cash prize in the Central Atlantic Student Entrepreneur™ Awards program.

Top prize is $4,000 and the opportunity to compete against other regional winners for as much as $10,000 in the Global Student Entrepreneur™ Awards program.

Last year, the Central Atlantic regional winner, Arman Daie of Georgetown University, was recognized with an Innovation Award at the global event for his company Linear Communications.

The competition is coordinated and sponsored by Clemson University's Spiro Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Caron St. John, director of the Spiro Center, says the competition gives student business owners a chance to showcase their success as well as interact with other entrepreneurial leaders.

"This type of competition brings recognition to the students and to their respective universities," St. John said. "At the awards event, they have a valuable opportunity to network with other experienced and young entrepreneurs."

This is the fourth year the Spiro Center has coordinated the Central Atlantic competition, which is open to all undergraduate students in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Student entrepreneurs enrolled in an undergraduate program at a technical school, college or university are eligible to enter. Entrants must submit proof of 12 (or the equivalent) hours of credits earned in the 12 months prior to application and be a business owner, with or without partners, who has primary responsibility for the management and operations of the business.

The judging criteria focus on the success of the business in creating profit and employment. Judges for the awards program are experienced in working with small businesses and include officials with the Small Business Administration, the state office of the Chamber of Commerce and small business loan experts.

The first-place winner in the Central Atlantic competition will receive $4,000; second place, $2,000; and third place, $1,000. Regional winners will then compete for the Global Student Entrepreneur Award. All awards will be announced in November.

Applications and additional information have been distributed to universities and technical schools in the region. Application packets must be received by the Spiro Center by March 3, 2003. Information also can be found online at www.clemson.edu/spiro/NACE, or contact Patsy Greene at (864) 656-7235 or greene@clemson.edu.