Broadcast Dates: Feb. 19, 2009, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 22, 2009, 7:30 a.m.; Feb. 23, 2009, 4:30 a.m.   More and more organizations are focusing on injecting ideals of social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability into their operations. This good global citizenship intersecting with successful business practices is the core of social value creation.

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has found a unique way to inject entrepreneurial spirit into campus activities with a Dingman Center Bootcamp. In January 2009, under the Dingman Center's initiative, 28 University of Maryland students from diverse majors gathered at the Smith School to bring their business ideas to life in less than three weeks.

College Park, Md. – December 11, 2008 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced it has been selected as an inaugural “Changemaker Campus” in partnership with Ashoka, a non-profit network of social entrepreneurs. Ashoka chose the University of Maryland as one of four U.S. campuses to develop a model for future university-based initiatives that will promote innovation and social change.

College Park, Md. – December 9, 2008 – The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is helping to fuel State of Maryland leadership in technology innovation and development. As case in point, two portfolio companies from the Dingman Center were announced among the five winners at the final round of the National University Startups Competition on December 2.

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship's Social Venture Consulting Program wrapped up a semester’s worth of consulting projects  as eight teams of Smith School students presented their consulting work to an audience of students and faculty on Dec. 3, 2008. Projects ranged from product development work, to outreach and social networking strategy. Each team presented a background on their client, their project findings, as well as the lessons they learned going forward.

“This has totally changed my life,” exclaimed one student winner of the Young Entrepreneurs Award in the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ China Business Plan Competition in Beijing this past October. He was beaming with emotion as he received his Olympic-esque medal and $1,000 cash award — one of 10 such awards — for his five-minute business pitch in the competition, hosted by Smith’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.

It's that time of the year again -- time to start shopping for holiday gifts! Instead of heading to big department stores, support University of Maryland entrepreneurs by buying unique presents from our own student and alumni entrepreneurs. Come tomorrow to the University of Maryland Holiday Marketplace and you will:

Ashoka, the world's largest network of social entrepreneurs, is launching a pilot program called "Changemaker Campuses" in which Ashoka applies its considerable talents and resources as a catalyst for positive social change to America's university campuses. Ashoka selected the University of Maryland as one of only four campuses across the United States to serve as the pilot program for its campus initiative. The University of Maryland is represented in this initiative by a team of students from across the entire university campus.

Beijing, China & College Park, Md. – October 29, 2008 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced the final winners of the fourth annual China Business Plan Competition. The announcement puts a cap on the year-long contest, which began with more than 200 entries that judges narrowed to 20 semi-finalists before selecting five finalist teams. Robert Krapfel, associate dean of MBA programs at the University of Maryland’s Robert H.

Students across campus will soon have a chance to join millions of other young people all over the world in a quest for new ideas and new venture creation!