ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona held its 2019 fall Student Showcase, supported by the division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology, on Friday, Dec. 13, in which students from various disciplines showcased their work through presentations to the college and the local business community.

Students from the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology program presented and demonstrated their senior capstone projects, while those studying business presented on their internship opportunities. Students in the Security and Risk Analysis program presented on their internships and capstone projects.

The first phase of the Pechter Business Plan Competition also took place. Two individuals and one team were selected to move on to the next phase: Krutik Patel with the Koin Keepr; Izaak Lusgarten with the D’Vote App; and Logan Botts, Joshua McClelland, Joseph Struck and Mackenzie Mortimore with RSL Industries.

The competition, established by Penn State Altoona benefactor Shirley Pechter, consists of a four-phase process for students to take ideas from concept through a feasibility study/market analysis to a full business plan. Local business leaders judged the competition, basing their evaluations on the feasibility of the proposed businesses, the business overviews and presentations. The students moving on in the competition will work on their plans in the business incubator throughout the spring semester at the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, creating detailed descriptions of their business concepts, potential market and likely competitors. During the spring 2020 Student Showcase, first-, second- and third-place winners will be selected and receive a monetary award.

The Student Showcase is presented by the Division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology; the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation; and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.

Visit the Penn State Flickr page to see more photos from the day.