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VOLUME 118 ISSUE 54
AWARDS
Business plan earns scholarship bucks
BY JEFF DETERS
jdeters@kansan.com
Jallo Mata Jr. has never set foot in a tanning salon.
But his business plan for a bilingual tanning salon has won a national award and earned him a $2,000 renewable four-year scholarship.
Mata, a Kansas City, Kan., freshman majoring in business management, won first place at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Bizfest, a competition and training program for high school and college students interested in a career in business. The competition, which ran from Sept. 19-22 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, required students to create a business plan complete with financial information. But Mata was, at one time, without a plan at all.
In regionals last spring, Mata, a then-high school senior, was still searching for the right business idea just hours before presentations
were due. One of his trainers opened a phone book and on it were ads for tanning salons. Mata began his research at about midnight and stayed up until 4 a.m. working on his new plan. Mata's late-night work paid off, however, as he finished second at regionals.
"I was confident in myself when I presented it," he said. "So that's what helped me. I didn't think I was going to place second, but I thought I'd be in the top three."
Mata said the concept of a bilingual tanning salon was incorporated because he speaks Spanish and English and thought the salon would be better equipped to serve customers.
At the Bizfest finals in September, Mata was again up until the wee hours of the morning getting more accurate financial numbers in regards to loans, rent, utility bills and other expenses. Mata was rewarded again but this time with the first-place award.
"I guess I work better under pressure," he said.
In addition to the award and scholarship, Mata has been offered an all-expensespaid trip to attend the USHCC Legislative Conference in March, an internship this summer with the USHCC in Washington, D.C., and another summer internship with Sprint
Mata said one of the things he learned from the competition was the importance of networking. He said meeting people from Sprint and Google helped him learn a great deal about managing finances of big businesses. Mata said in the future he wanted to work in international business.
Susana Rodriguez, Kansas City, Kan, freshman, also competed at Bizfest. Rodriguez, a French and pre-medicine major, submitted a business plan called HealthCARE for All. It featured a clinic for Hispanics and uninsured people.
She said she chose that idea because a year ago her dad was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and his medical coverage expired, making his doctor visits difficult and expensive.
Rodriquez did not place at nationalss but said she made new friends and enjoyed networking with business professionals.
"In Puerto Rico I met so many people that I have a lot in common with, and we still keep in touch," she said.
Carlos Gomez, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said that during the past five years Kansas City-area students had routinely placed in the top three of the competition but never first until this year.
"They did tremendous," he said. "We are very proud of them."
Rodriquez, who might someday want to open her own clinic, offered a suggestion to those interested in a business career: Always ask for the business cards of people you meet.
"You never know when you might need to contact them," she said.
Edited by Jeff Briscoe
Julio Mata, Kansas City, Kan., freshman, won a renewable $2,000 scholarship for his business model for a bilingual tanning salon. Mata won the first place award at Bizfest nationals in September in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Brad Crawford, Leawood freshman and Phi Delta Theta fraternity member, chalks Thursday afternoon on Wescoe Beach. Phi Delta Theta competed in the event with its homecoming partner, Alpha Gamma Delta. To support the Jahwak Nation team, the group designed Jahwaks to represent places across the U.S.
*Sarah Leonard/KRANK*
ENTERTAINMENT
Comic to visit campus Sunday
He's known for his comedic views on college and sports while appearing on various radio and television shows, but comedian Steve Hofstetter will bring his views to the University of Kansas this weekend for a fundraiser by Alpha Epsilon Pi. Hofstetter
was in Alpha Epsilon Pi at Columbia University.
The show will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Tickets cost $5 for students and $8 for the general public.
Hofstetter
In addition to his career as a comedian, Hofstetter also has a weekly column on SportsIllustrated.com.
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AWARDS
ROTC adds members to Hall of Fame
The Army ROTC is inducting three KU alumni into its Hall of Fame tomorrow at a ceremony before the football game.
Budget Committee, Edward Reilly, chairman of the United States Parole Commission and Michael Flowers, brigadier general and U.S. commander of the Joint POW/MIA
Flowers spoke to the Army ROTC on Thursday in Alderson Auditorium about his job and his leadership role.
Accounting Command.
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Audio-Reader added The University Daily Kansan and the Oread to the daily recordings that visually impaired people can access over the phone.
Audio service adds The Kansan
A faculty member requested to have the newspaper recorded after she lost most of her vision last year. A volunteer records
The Kansan in the studio daily, and on
Thursday the Jayplay also is available. The
 recording usually are finished by 10 a.m.
Other newspapers such as The Kansas City Star and The Wichita Eagle were already available through the service.
index
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Classifieds...5B
Crossword...4A
Horoscopes...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...1B
Sudoku...4A
weather
All contents, unless stated otherwise
© 2007 The University Daily Kansan
STUDENTS PROTEST FOR RIGHTS
Bills in the Venezuelan government could infringe on civil liberties
FULL AP STORY PAGE 6A
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