Texas State students sweep Texas Rural Challenge business competition

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
July 3, 2014

Texas State University took the top three places in the inaugural Texas Student Challenge business competition during the 5th annual Texas Rural Challenge, held June 19-20 in Waco.

The Texas Student Challenge is a business plan competition for college students geared toward business ventures and innovative technologies that will benefit rural communities.

Cory Hanes, a student in the McCoy College of Business, won first place with Indie Expo, a business that helps start-up brands unlock their full potential and maximize their profit by providing packaged services that tailor towards their needs.

Rosalie Kelly and Lauren Robinson, master of education students in the Department of Agriculture, won second place with Pumpkin Patch for Rural Development, an agri-tourism business designed to identify seasonal agri-tourism opportunities for enhancing rural development.

Cole Popper, Eric Iselt and William Terry, students in the McCoy College of Business, finished third with SweetWater Distillery, a craft distillery that was started with the goal of making the best-tasting drinks. Currently, SweetWater is in the stage of acquiring land as well as equipment with plans to have product on shelves within the year.

The Texas Rural Challenge was created in 2009 through a partnership between the University of Texas-San Antonio and the Office of the Governor. It is designed to organize a statewide conference to address the needs and challenges facing rural Texas.

For more information visit www.cvent.com/events/texas-rural-challenge/event-summary-704dac221ab9400b83d6ab099d020a48.aspx?cpc=KXNWQNBYNTH or http://utsa.edu/today/2014/06/txruralchall.html.