News Releases

USM Student Business Plan Competition Winners Develop "Perfect Ice System"

April 21, 2004

Two engineering students at the University of Southern Maine are winners of the $25,000 Student Business Plan Competition for 2004.

Joshua Heckman and Jonathan Wappel plan to introduce a line of devices to be used in various applications that require surface measurement. Their first product, "Perfect Ice System," will reduce time and error in creating level ice surfaces used for skating.

They expect a ready market in the ice arena industry for that product, and have plans for a variety of other applications of their high-resolution data acquisition and control devices in surface mapping applications.

Their company, Delta Surface Technologies, LLC, won over four other finalists in the competition, which initially included 33 other teams. For the first time, there were four teams from Southern Maine Community College; all the other teams had at least one student from USM.

The award was announced Thursday morning at a meeting of the USM Corporate Partners, a group of 130 businesses and other organizations supporting the university. The session, attended by 150, had been planned to include a keynote address by Gov. John Baldacci, but a last-minute scheduling conflict prevented the governorÕs attendance. USM President Rich Pattenaude presented the prize.

The competition, now in its third year, earns $10,000 in start-up cash and $15,000 in consulting services for the chosen team. The previous two winners are preparing to market products: One is an innovative water-pollution-sensing device; the other is a collapsible ironing board. The current winner is expected to seek entry into the marketplace within a year.

The other four finalists in the 2004 competition submitted plans for: A jewelry design company specializing in high-quality, custom, one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces; a family entertainment center featuring an amusement park, a food court and a paintball arena; a service to certify the credentials of jobseekers; and a company to design and install fully integrated computer and home theater systems

Judges for this year's competition were John Chandler, Joseph Herlihy, and Diane Sammer.

USM Business School Dean Jack Trifts, in remarks at the awards presentation, announced plans to expand the competition throughout Maine beginning next year. "The Student Business Plan Competition brings together the business community and students from USM and SMCC in a unique way," says Richard Bilodeau, program director. "The business community participates not only by providing funding and support services, but they also have the opportunity to become valuable resources to the student teams. As we expand the competition statewide, we are enhancing Maine's entrepreneurial education, linking potential businesses to the community resources they need to be successful; and seeding economic development across the state."

>more news releases