FARMINGTON – San Juan College recently announced that, in partnership with Fort Lewis College, the Hawk Tank competition is coming to San Juan College to give students a chance to win startup cash to turn their business dreams into a reality.
Similar to the TV show “Shark Tank,” students will have the chance to pitch their business plan ideas in the Hawk Tank competition.
The competition is open to SJC and regional high school students who will have the chance to earn cash prizes and scholarships. The student contestants will also receive “professional guidance and mentorship from local businesses,” said Lucy Haber, spokeswoman for SJC.
There are two separate competitions students can enter. The first is the college track in which students compete with one another to win up to $5,000. For the grand finale, the team that places first from FLC and the team that places first from SJC will battle head-to-head to win an additional $5,000.
The second competition is the high school track. In that competition, high school students from the Four Corners will submit their business plan ideas for a chance to win scholarships for up to $2,000 from SJC and up to $8,000 from FLC. High school students will also have the chance to win up to $500 in cash prizes.
“We are excited to partner with Fort Lewis College to bring this unique opportunity to San Juan College and area high school students,” said Eddy Rawlinson, San Juan College dean, School of Business and Information Technology. “Through Hawk Tank, students not only advance and learn vital skills in their academic studies, but participation in the program allows them to apply those skill sets in a real world environment as well as prepares them for success as future entrepreneurs and business owners.”
Aside from the competition side of Hawk Tank, there will also be free virtual workshops, including some workshops to help students improve their business pitches, plans and finances.
For more information about the competition or the workshops, people can attend a Zoom information session at 5 p.m. Jan. 26 at https://fortlewis.zoom.us/j/97738196633.
For more information, visit www.sanjuancollege.edu/hawktank.
mmitchell@durangoherald.com
