The West Virginia University Entrepreneurship Center has announced five finalist teams that will be vying for a $10,000 grand prize in the centers second annual student business plan competition.

A panel of judges selected them from among 36 student teams that submitted proposals this semester. Next semester, the finalist teams will work with Entrepreneurship Center faculty to develop full-blown business plans. The competition will culminate in an all-day event, during which teams will present their plans to a panel of distinguished judges, and the grand prize winners will be chosen. The center is still looking for additional sponsors to help with the prizes for the competition.

The business plan competition is part of the WVU Entrepreneurship Centers three main areas of focus: educational curriculum and programs, academic and applied research, and outreach and service programs. Under the leadership of interim Director Russell Sobel, the center is on the second floor of the WVU College of Business and Economics. For more information, call 293-7221 or visit www.be.wvu.edu/ec .

Brief summaries of the finalist teams and their business ideas:

• AMR Services will provide automated meter reading services to small and medium-sized utilities in West Virginia. Team leader: Jason Halstead, graduate student in software engineering in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Team member: Anthony Mazelon, WVU alumnus.

• K. Lianna Accessory Design will produce unique fashion purses to be offered for sale in major retail department stores and/or small boutiques. Team leader: Kathrine L. Grisso, junior in textiles, apparel and merchandising in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences with a minor in business administration.

• QualityLynx will provide software that can collect and report performance improvement data for healthcare institutions. Team leader: Bryan Bowles, EMBA student in the College of Business and Economics. Team member: Chris Nichols, EMBA in the College of Business and Economics.

• ShieldStone will provide prescription and nonprescription oxygen for both medical and recreational clients in conjunction with education and other services needed to take full advantage of what oxygen has to offer. Team leader: Anna Begley, senior in industrial and management systems engineering in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Team members: Sean C. Sexstone, senior in industrial and management systems engineering, and Johnny R. Shields, graduate student in industrial and management systems engineering.

• Youth Sport Enrichment Corp. will construct and operate a year-round, indoor soccer facility in West Virginia designed to provide unavailable opportunities for all generations that enrich, enhance and supplement the communitys existing recreational activities. Team leader: Robert C. Mead Jr., EMBA student in the College of Business and Economics.