SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Entrepreneurship Redefined
Fairmont State University ’ s strong sense of family and its commitment to providing access to anyone who seeks a quality , transformative education attracts more West Virginia natives each year . Fairmont State is so strongly committed to those ideals — family , access and transformative educational experiences — they serve as foundations in the university ’ s vision and mission positioning . Another keystone in its current strategic plan is the support of entrepreneurship .
“ Our financial strength allows us to adopt an agile , entrepreneurial mindset ,” says President Mirta M . Martin . “ We embrace an entrepreneurial philosophy — not only in our decision-making but also in encouraging all academic areas to find and create entrepreneurial experiences for our students .”
One such experience is the West Virginia Business Plan Competition , wherein college students pitch business proposals . Fairmont State senior Emily Gersper earned third place for her proposal , West Virginia Storybook Weddings , a one-stop wedding shop for wedding-related products and services . Gersper ’ s idea first came to her while taking Professor Jim Davis ’ Small
Business Management and Entrepreneurship class . In this class , students are encouraged to think outside the box to enhance their creativity .
Gersper was a business major , but at Fairmont State , entrepreneurship isn ’ t confined solely to business studies . “ Often , when people hear the word entrepreneurship , they automatically think business ,” Davis says . “ However , an entrepreneurial mindset is one from which all students can benefit . Someone who thinks like an entrepreneur is someone who has an internal locus of control — someone who thinks creatively and is not easily discouraged .”
Associate Professor of Art Joel Dugan understands the need for arts students to embrace the spirit of entrepreneurship . “ We require studio art majors , as part of their senior capstone project , to outline their small business goals as professional artists ,” Dugan says . “ An entrepreneurial mindset better prepares students for sustainable careers as professional artists . It ’ s not selling out . It ’ s selling art .”
Fairmont State understands that entrepreneurial skills prepare all students for success in the job market upon graduation — employers eagerly seek graduates with an entrepreneurial mindset , because they know they ’ ll become employees who are creative problem solvers .
President Martin believes Fairmont State can be an incubator for entrepreneurs because , as she says , “ We already attract that type of student . Falcons are optimistic , hard-working and eager to take on challenges . We want to nurture those instincts and harness that nascent entrepreneurial DNA .”
Whether it ’ s a business major creating a wedding service , an arts major developing a business plan for their future career , a biology student starting a sustainability blog or a student athlete combining their experience on the field with marketing strategies from the classroom , Fairmont State University is reimagining entrepreneurship and creating a laboratory for students to combine interests and prepare for the professional world .
Tomorrow ’ s citizen leaders are today ’ s Falcon entrepreneurs .
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