ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University students will compete shark tank-style this week at the NSU Idea Pitch Competition—and the winner will take home $500 cash.

The competition, which is open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in Northern’s Lincoln Gallery. Five student teams will pitch their ideas to four community judges. The student competitors and their ideas are:

• Alexandria Arndt, a criminal justice major from Blue Springs, Mo., will pitch the idea, “Buddy System.”
• Addison Cumbow, a special and elementary education major from Pierre, will pitch the idea, “MyMind.”
• Kealy Hill, a sports marketing and administration major from Gillette, Wyo., will pitch the idea, “307 Escape Rooms.”
• Grace Kramer, a biochemistry major from Aberdeen, will pitch the idea, “eq-UTI.”
• Georgy Turner, a double major in international business and management from Johannesburg, South Africa, and Kendra Hinz, a double major in MIS and management from Roscoe, will pitch the idea, “Back to school supplies package.”

The winning pitch will receive $500, second place will take home $250 and third place will win $100. There are also three $50 “people’s choice” awards, so attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorite pitch.

Judging the competition will be Mike Bockorny, Aberdeen Development Corporation; Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center; Travis Schaunaman, Production Monkeys; and Joni Ekstrum, SD BioTech. The cash awards are sponsored by the Aberdeen Development Corporation.

For more information about the event, visit NSU Idea Pitch Competition.

About Northern State University

 Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.