Sandwiches and salads pitched at competition, delivers victory

Chris Payne Staff Writer

The Hudsonian’s Matthew Whalen, Durgin McCue and Samantha Longton won the Entrepreneur’s Club marketing competition last Wednesday.

“This competition will help teach students about both entrepreneurship and marketing,” said Jodi Mather, Entrepreneur Club advisor.

Four teams competed to create and market a product for 16 Handles at a competition hosted by the Entrepreneur’s Club. Whalen, McCue, and Longton presented their idea of individually-wrapped sandwiches and salads to the judges and were selected as the winners.

“We’re really excited to be going to Plattsburgh to take part in this learning experience,” said McCue, business administration major. “I’m really happy that there is a club on campus that provides these kinds of opportunities to young, ambitious business people.”

“I am very excited to be going to a bigger competition. We did not know what was going to happen but it was fun and a fun experience,” said Matthew Whalen, digital media student. “I appreciate the entrepreneurs club for letting us participate and putting us through to the next round at Plattsburgh.”

Two new flavors of frozen yogurt and an idea for a new type of protein shake were presented by the other three teams on Wednesday as well. “My idea for the competition is to create a new flavor for 16 Handles,” said Jad El Khoury, business administration student.

El Khoury competed along with his team, who came up with the idea for a new flavor of frozen yogurt, “Can You Handle the Twist?,” a mango peach flavor with goji berries and honey.

Another team created a frozen yogurt flavor called Fizzy Cream Soda. “We brainstormed and liked fizzy cream soda the best,” said Tyler Betzwieser, business administration major and one of the proposed flavor’s creators.

“We wanted a new carbonated beverage frozen yogurt flavor,” said Shane Thorkildsen, another mind behind the Fizzy Cream Soda idea who is majoring in accounting. Emily Connolly, the team’s alternate chosen at the Entrepreneurs Club speak-off last semester, attended the competition.

“This is good experience for hopeful entrepreneurs,” she said. Whalen, McCue, and Longton will represent Hudson Valley at the competition at SUNY Plattsburgh on Mar. 3 and 4. They will be competing along with Emily Connolly and James Waller, winner of the speak-off.