Westminster students’ ideas top competition

Staff report

New wilmington, pa.

Ann Marie Bayma, a Westminster College sophomore international business and accounting major, and Violet Shriver, a sophomore accounting major, were named winners of the 2013 David W. Edward Entrepreneurship Scholarship competition.

The competition, conducted by Westminster’s Department of Economics and Business and supported by funding from the Edward Trust in Youngstown, requires students to prepare and present a business plan depicting the creation of a new or substantially improved business, product, service, or some combination of the three.

The competition culminated March 27 with presentations by the students of their business plans to a panel of judges.

Bayma earned first place in the competition.

Her plan outlined a business that specializes in the manufacture and sale of rain boots. The high-quality rubber “rain” boot featured built-in magnets with removable magnetic shells in various colors and patterns.

The primary goal of No Slip Boots was to create quality nonslip rain boots at the lowest possible price.

The ability to purchase one pair of boots and change the magnetic shell to match attire would make the purchase especially appealing to budget-conscious college students walking in poor weather conditions.

Bayma is a daughter of Edmund and Rose Bayma of Warren and a graduate of Howland High School.

Shriver, who earned second place, created a health- and environmentally-conscious nail polish.

G.G.’s Healthy Decree vowed to be free of toxic chemicals and additionally offer a special recycling incentive to consumers.

This company hoped to reduce the long-term effects of harsh products used in salons and to reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals disposed in landfills.

Shriver is a daughter of Scott and Kate Shriver of Pittsburgh and a graduate of North Allegheny High School.

The judges included Kenneth J. Romig, vice president of finance at Westminster College; Thomas L. Johnston, service manager at Packer and Thomas, Certified Public Accountants, and director of the New Castle Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program; and Philip G. Petraglia `83, vice president and chief financial officer of Pittsburgh Life Science Greenhouse.

The competition was coordinated by Gail Miller, Westminster professor of business, and David Smith, Westminster associate professor of accounting.