The Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship revealed the winner of its third annual “Essence of Entrepreneurship” mural design competition on May 7.
The event marked the end of the design competition, launched in January, which aimed to capture what entrepreneurship means to Baruch College students. With submissions open throughout the year, the winner’s design is displayed at the Field Center for a year until another design replaces it.
That lucky student also receives a stipend of $1,000, or in the case of two students partnering up for a project, they could win $2,000 — $1,000 each.
This year’s winner, Anna Joseph, was surprised and overjoyed by the victory. She said she truly did not expect to be selected.
“I wasn’t really expecting to win or anything,” Joseph, pursuing digital finance in her junior year of college, told The Ticker in an interview.
When she got the call that confirmed her win over the weekend, she thought they only needed to settle some details with her. She likes designing art on her iPad in her spare time, and now her artwork, featuring the title “‘Entrepreneur’ explained by frogs,” will be on display for the next year.
“For a business student, entrepreneurship is a big word, and it means going the road that is not much traveled, because it’s a scary thing to do,” Joseph said, explaining her artwork. “So, I wanted to explain that in my art, in my own way; what entrepreneurship means to me personally.”
Her mural highlights little frogs, each symbolically depicting the various steps in the process of entrepreneurship in a bright-colored, playful way. As one example, text reading “the only way is up” appears by a frog in a suit, with a briefcase that says “IDEA,” mounting a flight of stairs.
The event itself displayed all student art submissions, gallery style, around the room, accompanied by music and assorted refreshments. Field Center Program Coordinator Gary Smalls, was a welcoming host, and explained the idea behind the competition and introduced the art.
Executive Director at the Field Center Marlene Leekang, said she was “thrilled” with how the competition has grown over the years. This year, 18 other students submitted designs for the competition.
The importance of the competition, Leekang said, is to make talented students understand that their way of thinking could be entrepreneurial, even if they might not realize it. The competition is one way for them to uncover it.
For the students unfamiliar with the Field Center, she encouraged them to check it out.
“Come to the center — I promise you’ll find your community and you’ll stay, because there is something for everyone,” Leekang said. “It’s a safe place to be yourself and have some quiet time, if necessary.” She was also thrilled with how the competition is growing every year, bringing out creativity among students.
