VINTAGE DAYS: FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WEDNESDAY Issue APRIL 13, 2011 FRESNO STATE
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Lyles Center hatches entrepreneurs
Madison Artist / The Collegian
The Lyles Center offers a study area for entrepreneurial majors like Sal Garciato study and work.
By Beeta Taidi-Laskowski The Collegian
Not many colle ge students are able to utter the words “We can meet in my office,” but for some of the entrepreneurship majors at Fresno State, the words just flow right out. At the Lyles Center for Innovation a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p, F r e s n o State students are given a chance to jumpstart their careers and start their own business before they receive their degree. Within the Lyles Center is what is fondly known as “The Hatchery,”
which can be otherwise described as a student business incubator. “ T h e H at ch e r y i s a p l a c e fo r students to start their business while they’re still in school and to receive coaching, mentoring and advice,” Dr. Tim Stearns, the executive director of the Lyles Center, said. There are three dif ferent ways that a student can land a spot in The Hatchery. A student can apply to the Lyles Center for an office, they can apply for a scholarship, such as the Coleman Entrepreneur Scholarship, or they can enter in the Lyles Center Student Venture Challenge. Students taking the more direct
approach to receiving an office often already have their business started and utilize The Hatchery to help push them along. Those who choose to partake in competition with other students for one of the two scholarships offered will somehow present an executive summary or a business plan as a way to receive not just their office but also some “seed money.” Once in The Hatchery, students are required to show progress within their business. Meetings with advisors are necessary to ensure that they are able to keep the momentum going. In addition to the meetings, students need to re-apply to The Hatchery each
semester to keep their office space. “The Hatchery also serves as an outlet for these students to receive guidance and information from both seasoned professional and successful local entrepreneurs,” Genelle Taylor, the associate director of the Lyles Center, said. Students in The Hatchery can utilize these opportunities as well as ones offered by the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Club. Through the resources provided, students can make connections and broaden their networks, which could potentially prove to be an invaluable experience. The Hatchery has already seen students take advantage of their opportunities and fly the coop. Stephanie Reilly applied for the Coleman Entrepreneur Scholarship in her senior year of high school and came to Fresno State to begin building her business, POParazzi, before leaving for New York after completing her second year. Other students have utilized The Hatchery over a number of years to help boost themselves up. “My business has g rown exponentially since I’ve moved into my office,” entrepreneurship major Kenneth Borg said, who is also the owner of Dog Prints. Borg applied for an office in the spring semester of his sophomore year at Fresno State after one of his entrepreneurship classes. Borg has created a clothing line and a screen-printing company that can be recognized by the Fresno State community through different clubs and organizations, including Fresno State Athletics. “The Lyles Center has helped progress my business to the point where I could make a living off of it,” Borg said.
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California sets nation’s highest renewable power goals By Adam Weintraub Associated Press MILPITAS, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed legislation requiring Califor nia utilities to get one-third of their power from renewable sources, giving the state the most aggressive alternative energy mandate in the U.S. Califor nia utilities and other electricity providers have until the end of 2020 to draw 33 percent of their power from solar panels, windmills and other renewable sources. “ T h e re a re p e o p l e wh o t h i n k we can drill our way to happiness and prosperity,” the Democratic governor told hundreds of workers and other supporters at a solar panel manufacturing plant near San Jose. “Instead of just taking oil from thousands of miles away, we’re taking the sun and converting it.” Previous California law required utilities to get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources.
Supporters of the higher standard said it will reassure investors and keep money flowing to develop alternative energy sources. They say that will lead to cleaner air and job growth in the green energy sector. “By the end of the decade, our goal is to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy, all other forms of energy,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu told the crowd at the SunPower Corp./Flextronics plant. “This would be a game-changer for us, opening up a world of export opportunities, and California’s innovators and businesses can help us achieve this goal.” Critics of the le gislation said sticking with traditional energ y sources such as coal and natural gas would be cheaper, keeping costs down for business and residential ratepayers. Business groups point to estimates that the higher standard could drive up electricity costs for Califor nia ratepayers by more than 7 percent, despite language in the legislation to See ENERGY, Page 3
Rich Pedroncelli / APImages
Greg Bosscawen, manager of renewable energy for Pacific Gas and Electric Co., walks past solar panels at PG&E’s Vaca-Dixon solar energy site near Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, April 12, 2011. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation, Tuesday, that would require California utilities to get onethird of their power from renewable sources, giving the state the most aggressive alternative energy mandate in the U.S.