The final winners of the Second Annual China Business Plan Competition were announced on September 13, 2006. The announcement of the three winning teams is the culmination of the year-long national competition, which began with nearly 150 entries. Howard Frank, dean of the Smith School and Mr. Liang Gui, director general of the Torch High-Tech Center at the China Ministry of Science and Technology, named the winners at an awards ceremony in Beijing, China. The winners are: US$25,000 grand prize winner Coolbar

The final winners of the Second Annual China Business Plan Competition were announced on September 13, 2006. The announcement of the three winning teams is the culmination of the year-long national competition, which began with nearly 150 entries. Howard Frank, dean of the Smith School and Mr. Liang Gui, director general of the Torch High-Tech Center at the China Ministry of Science and Technology, named the winners at an awards ceremony in Beijing, China. The winners are: US$25,000 grand prize winner Coolbar

The Smith School on June 27, 2006 announced the 20 semi-finalist teams in the schools second annual China Business Plan Competition during a news conference in Beijing. With many of the contestants in the audience, the names of the semi-finalists were read by Maryland Secretary of State Mary D. Kane and Shi Dinghuan, Counselor of the State Council and former Secretary General of the Ministry of Science and Technology for the Peoples Republic of China.

Beijing, China June 27, 2006 Maryland Secretary of State Mary D. Kane, leading a state higher education delegation in China, today announced the 20 semi-finalists of the second annual China Business Plan Competition, sponsored by the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business. The competition, themed Building Leaders for the Digital Economy, offers a $25,000 grand prize, $15,000 second prize and $10,000 third prize to entrepreneurs with information-, communication- or technology-related businesses.

On June 27, Maryland Secretary of State Mary D. Kane will help the Smith School announce the 20 semi-finalists of the second annual China Business Plan Competition at the Zhongguancun Wangjing Science Park in Beijing, China. The competition, themed Building Leaders for the Digital Economy, offers a $25,000 grand prize, $15,000 second prize and $10,000 third prize to entrepreneurs with information-, communication- or technology-related businesses.

On May 19, 2006 the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the first Cupids Cup business competition for student-run startups at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Under Armour Chief Executive Kevin Plank, a 1996 Smith graduate, put up the $10,000 prize and helped pick the winner of this years competition North Star Games (www.northstargames.com).

College Park, Md. April 28, 2006 - The Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland today announced that Melissa K. Carrier has been named to the newly created position of associate director at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. She will help manage the top-ranked national entrepreneurship centers programs, continue to develop the centers network of investors, and assist regional and student entrepreneurs. The position was created as part of the Dingman Centers continued efforts to support Washington and mid-Atlantic entrepreneurs and investors.

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, a top-ranked U.S. business school with Executive MBA and custom executive education programs in China, is sponsoring its second annual China Business Plan Competition. The competition, themed "Building Leaders for the Digital Economy" is organized by the Smith School's Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and will bring together entrepreneurs and business executives from around the world to compete for a total of $50,000 in prize money, including a $25,000 grand prize, $15,000 second prize and $10,000 third prize.

Beijing, China March 23, 2006 The University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business is seeking leaders for the digital economy. The Smith School today announced the launch of the second annual China Business Plan Competition a contest that offers aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to present a business idea focused on information, communication or technology to compete for a $25,000 grand prize, $15,000 second prize or $10,000 third prize.

College Park, Md. March 7, 2006 The entrepreneurship program at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business is ranked among the top 13 nationally in research firm EntrePoints Annual Collegiate Entrepreneurship Program Rankings.