6 - March 16, 2012 | Pelham - Windham News NH’s First Young Professional Organization Launches State’s Largest Business Plan Competition


submitted by Manchester Young Professionals Network The Manchester Young Professionals Network (MYPN) has


launched the state’s largest business plan competition with a total prize package exceeding $35,000. The 2012 MYPN New Hampshire Start Up Challenge will allow one lucky entrepreneur to walk away with the resources necessary to get his or her business off the ground. The MYPN NH Start Up Challenge is a statewide business plan competition designed to encourage entrepreneurship and social innovation. Applicants must be a New Hampshire resident and an owner or founder of a business. Startup’s must be for-profit, have been in existence for less than three years, have raised under $100,000 in funding and generated under $100,000 in 2011 revenue. Contestants must email a minimum one to two page summary of a business plan or idea to startup@mypn.org by April 16 in order to qualify. Contestants are highly encouraged to submit a video pitch along with the written submission. The winner will receive a prize package of:


• Up to $25,000 in cash • Ultimate South by Southwest (SXSW) Experience courtesy of Dyn consisting of airfare to Austin, TX, three days and two nights’ accommodations, two-day pass to SXSW Interactive and a VIP pass to the Dyn SXSW Music Meets Tech Party


• Seat in the abi Innovation Hub’s Accelerator Program and one- year residence at the abi


• Legal services from McLane Law Firm


• Accounting services from Howe Riley & Howe “The Start Up Challenge offers the unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to take the first step in realizing their dream,” said E.J. Powers, Co-Chair of the MYPN NH Start Up Challenge. “We intend on growing the prize package as the competition heats up – and we welcome businesses to come forward with additional sponsorship dollars and in-kind services.” Applications can be submitted now through April 16. On April


20 five contestants will be selected to participate in a series of educational forums coordinated by the abi Innovation Hub. The semi-finalists will draft and submit a formal business plan and have an opportunity to pitch before a live audience on May 17tat the abi. On May 22 two finalists will be selected to hone their business plans and prepare for a closed presentation to a panel of judges on May 31. The competition will culminate with a final live pitch event June 20 before a packed house at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. Two finalists will field questions and answers from the audience and judges and ultimately one will walk away with over $35,000 in cash and prizes. The NH Start Up Challenge was created in 2008 by MYPN, New Hampshire’s first and largest young professional networking organization. Over the past four years $100,000 has been awarded to New Hampshire start-ups. “The Start Up Challenge has been a consistent game changer for entrepreneurship here in New Hampshire. Identifying and funding exciting new startups, as well as providing ongoing mentorship


and residency are critical ingredients to creating a more dynamic ecosystem. If you are looking to take your startup to the next level, now is your opportunity,” says Jamie Coughin, CEO and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the abi Innovation Hub. Public Service of New Hampshire is the presenting sponsor of the MYPN New Hampshire Start Up Challenge. Current sponsors include Dyn, abi Innovation Hub, McLane Law Firm and Howe, Riley & Howe and Montagne Communications. “PSNH has supported the Start Up Challenge since its inception because we strongly believe in MYPN and its mission,” said Pat McDermott, director of economic development for Public Service of New Hampshire. “This competition is a tangible way for us to help grow New Hampshire’s economy. We encourage other businesses to join us in sponsoring the competition.” For more information and complete rules of the competition, please visit www.mypn.org/nh-start-up-challenge. About MYPN MYPN was formed in 2004 to create business opportunities, support community involvement and to foster an overall investment in the future of Manchester. MYPN members gain access to community leaders, equally motivated peers, and develop future skills. The organization helps to improve its members’ professional skills, expand their contact base, and provide the opportunity to promote themselves and their business in a relaxing setting. www. mypn.org.


WIRE to Break Ground in Spring for Installation of Wind Turbine and Photo Voltaic Solar


submitted by Carlo DiPersio, WIRE Committee After nearly three years of planning, fundraising, and reviewing quotes from vendors, WIRE (Windham Initiative for Renewable Energy) is proud to announce it will be breaking ground at Windham High School this spring for a wind turbine and photo voltaic solar array. Renewable Energy is proud to announce it will be breaking ground at Windham High School this spring for a wind turbine and photo voltaic solar array. The fundraising goal was helped by a donor


challenge made by an individual who offered to match any donation made to WIRE up to a $20,000 maximum as well as the fundraising efforts of the Windham Endowment for Community Advancement. The Windham School Board, Board of Selectmen as well as the high school administration have all signed off on plans developed by the approved vendors; Wind Guys USA from Rye Beach, and ReVision Energy from Exeter, to install a Skystream 3.7 Wind Turbine


and Energy System, and 12 240 watt photo voltaic panels on structurally engineered pole mounts. The 2.4 kW, 12-foot diameter wind turbine will be mounted on a 45-foot tower and will have the ability to be easily tilted down by the faculty and used for study as part of the renewable energy curriculum. “Students will have the opportunity to see working applications of concepts they have learned from class. Utilizing the tilt down feature of the Skystream wind turbine, students will be able to take a closer look at gearing, generator components, and associated electronics. Perhaps most importantly, students will be able to collect long term data from the wind turbine and solar panels for more significant project work and self- directed investigation,” noted Patrick Kaplo, WHS Physics Teacher.


Data from the wind turbine, solar array systems, and weather station will be available inside the school and science labs as well as online to Windham residents through the planned for monitoring system. Additionally, data from the


system will be studied to determine if WIRE’s Beta project, which is to determine if a renewable energy system on a much larger scale can be installed to truly offset some of the energy costs at the high school, is viable. “We are very excited to finally get to the part of the project that will begin to impact our kids. The fundraising effort was long and difficult, especially in this economic environment, but our residents, corporate sponsors, The Windham Endowment, and our anonymous matching donor have stepped up and made the difference.” said WIRE Chairman, Alan Carpenter. “I am incredibly grateful to all of the people


that have put an enormous amount of time and work into this project. It is great to see all of this technology in renewable energy become readily available to Windham’s students and parents alike, ” said David Hutchings, a junior at WHS, WIRE committee member and the individual who provided the inspiration for the project in 2009. This system achieves WIRE’s Alpha project goal


which was to include a moderate sized wind turbine that can be lowered for study, photovoltaic solar array, weather station and monitoring system to be installed at Windham High School and incorporated into the science and math curricula allowing WHS students hands on experience as well as encourage and give a head start to students that may be interested in pursuing various careers in the burgeoning renewable energy field as they consider higher education choices. The WIRE committee would like to sincerely thank all those who donated to the project as well as the WHS teachers and administration for their support and excitement for this project. This project is entirely privately funded and for the benefit our kids. No public funds will be used. “Friend” WIRE on Facebook “Windham Initiative for Renewable Energy (WIRE)”.


submitted by Kim Capici, Friends of the Library of Windham Applications for this year’s Friends of the Library of Windham


scholarships are due on Friday, April 20. Let the Friends of the Library of Windham help fund your college education! Once again this year, we are pleased to offer both our Friends of the Library of Windham Annual Scholarship and the


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Friends of the Library of Windham Mary Long Scholarship. These scholarships are valued at $4,000 each and are awarded to a high school senior who is a Windham resident. Requirements include a minimum 3.0 grade point average and three letters of recommendation. Applicants for the Friends’ Annual Scholarship may be enrolled in any college degree program. Applicants for the Friends’ Mary Long Scholarship must be enrolled in one of the following degree programs: Art, Dance, Drama/Theatre, Music, Creative Writing, Communications, Broadcast Journalism, History,


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Windham Lions Club Scholarships Offered


The Windham Lions Club is offering three memorial scholarships totaling $4,500: The David Dunn Memorial Scholarship This scholarship is open to Windham seniors and graduates furthering their education. The David Dunn Memorial Scholarship is a one-time scholarship in the amount of $500. The Merrill Greenlee Memorial Scholarship This scholarship is open to Windham seniors and graduates furthering their education. The Merrill Greenlee Memorial Scholarship is distributed in four yearly payments of $500, totaling $2,000. The Jeffery P. Shaw Memorial Scholarship - Engineering Scholarship


Two scholarships, each in the amount of $1,000, will be


awarded. Applications will be accepted from all graduating seniors from Pinkerton Academy, regardless of their residency, and from all graduating seniors from any accredited high school while residing in the Town of Windham.


Applications can be found at the guidance office at Windham High School and Pinkerton Academy. Applications can also be accessed at www.windhamlions.org. All applications must be returned no later than April 7 (the return date online incorrectly states April 1). Send applications to: The Windham Lions Club - Scholarship Committee, PO Box 312, Windham, NH 03087-0312.


Art History, Architecture, Museum Studies, Art Conservation, Film or Graphic Arts.


Desk), Windham High School, Salem High School, Bishop Guertin High School, Central Catholic High School and online at www. flowwindham.org. Applications should be submitted at the Nesmith Library. Scholarship winners will be announced at the Strawberry Festival and Book Fair in June. For additional information contact Lisa Thornton at 434-3434.


Academic Scholarships Available


submitted by Ruth Coole, Windham Woman’s Club Scholarship applications are available at the Nesmith Library, 8


952-4848 46 Lowell Rd, Windham •


www.pelletiersmiles.com 1533 Lakeview Ave, Dracut 978-957-7170


Fellows Road and the guidance office at Windham High School. The Windham Woman’s Club will award two $1,500 scholarships in May 2012. Applicants must be residents of Windham and must be graduating high school seniors. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholastic and academic achievement


and demonstrated financial need. Applications must be received by April 20. The scholarship is awarded conditionally upon graduation, but is not given until the winner has successfully completed the first college semester in January, 2013. Awards are given directly to the student. Mail completed application, including transcripts and letter of recommendation to: Jean Morrow, 11 Cross Street, Windham, NH 03087.


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