International Business Plan Program Results
Free Trade Alliance International Business Plan Program
Results Are Out, And We All Win
San Antonio, Texas USA
- The Free Trade Alliance Education Foundation hosted the awards ceremony luncheon for its 3rd annual International Business Plan program on Friday in the Sky Room on the campus of the University of Incarnate Word. Students from 22 countries and 33 universities came together to learn how they measured up in a field of 140 globally minded students.
Winners received their share of the $26,250 prize fund and the opportunity for mentorship sessions with global leaders. Winning teams in the graduate category came from China, Germany and the United States and represented New England Law – Boston, UT-Austin, UT-Dallas, Shanghai Medical Instrumentation College, Texas A&M University – San Antonio, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, UT Health & Science Center – San Antonio and UTSA. Winning teams in the undergraduate category came from Columbia, United States, Nicaragua, Honduras, Germany, Mexico, Serbia, Bolivia and Nicaragua and represented Trinity University, UTSA and St. Mary’s University.
Dan Decker, President of SeaWorld San Antonio spoke to the students on behalf of the many executive level judges. "I was inspired by the efforts you went through. They were real life experiences that will apply in a positive way to your future work endeavors." he said.
The Alliance began the International Business Plan Program as a way to help students develop the skills to compete and collaborate globally, develop their global network, and foster international relationships and understanding. This is the only program of its kind that brings students from around the world together on a cross-cultural team.
"Programs like this do not happen without the generosity of sponsors showing their financial support." said Peter Albarian, Director of the Free Trade Alliance Education Foundation. "I would personally like to thank Port San Antonio, The University of the Incarnate Word, University of Texas at San Antonio, SeaWorld San Antonio, Port of Corpus Christi Authority, Bexar County, Plains Capital Bank, Trinity University, Barton, East & Caldwell, Texas A&M – San Antonio and BioMed SA for making the difference for these globally minded students.
Each winning team had the opportunity to explain their business plan to the audience and had very appreciative words about their teammates and mentor. Eric Escamilla, part of the winning undergraduate team from St. Mary’s said "We came together as a team and learned a lot about ourselves and what we are capable of." Mentors and judged are executives from companies such as AstraZeneca, Boeing, Enertis, HEB, KCI Medical, Port San Antonio, Proctor & Gamble, Scholastic Books,
SeaWorld, Valero, and many more. "Students gain a tremendous amount of insight from their mentors and that opportunity seems to go both ways" said Albarian. "Everyone who was a part of today’s event knows the importance of their support and participation. We are all making positive differences for this region that will last a very long time." No matter what the official outcome, everyone left a winner from this event.
