Entrepreneurship is the story of an ascent - tackling tough problems, working from the bottom up and crafting businesses that solve the challenges of life. We celebrate this spirit in The Ascent Awards.

The annual selection process begins with a nationwide search for entrepreneurs who embody the spirit of Ball State’s Entrepreneurship Center - reflecting not just financial success, market scale or technical innovation, but original ideas and a determination to make those ideas real.

The ten entrepreneurial companies chosen aren't always the subject of the biggest headlines on the business pages, but these stories of success and original thinking provide inspiration to students who are creating their own unique, working business plans with a foot firmly on the first rung of the entrepreneurial ladder.

The stories are compiled and presented to our senior entrepreneurship students, who vote on the three they feel are most compelling. You are one of the three. Congratulations.

The Ascent process culminates in a gala dinner in Indianapolis honoring all three finalists. Earlier that day, Entrepreneurship Center alumni will view presentations of your business and talk to you about the challenges you’ve faced and the success you’ve won. The sole winner of the Ascent will then be announced that night at the dinner. This, our third annual event, has been set for Saturday, November 1st, 2008.You will be contacted shortly with more details. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Entrepreneurship Center promotes entrepreneurship through:

• providing educational programs and projects
• offering assistance to emerging entrepreneurs and maturing businesses
• promoting cross-campus collaboration in the spirit of entrepreneurship
• fostering entrepreneurship throughout Indiana

Risk, innovation, and passion are at the heart of the remarkable success of Ball State University's Entrepreneurship Center and its graduates. Achieving top national rankings since it was founded more than 20 years ago, the program has become known as the "ultimate entrepreneurial experience." Ball State has established a solid position at the forefront of entrepreneurial education, research, and innovation, with a commitment to outreach and research through the Entrepreneurship Center and as the co-administrative site for the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers.