Innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit were on full display April 26-27 as students from the Eagle Pass Independent School District participated in the highly anticipated Start-Up Weekend, hosted in partnership with the Rio Grande College of Business (RGCOB), Sul Ross State University International (SRSUI), the Eagle Pass Economic Development Department and EPISD.

Teams from C.C. Winn High School and Eagle Pass High School presented original business concepts to a panel of distinguished judges, including accomplished business owners and administrators with over five decades of industry experience. Each team delivered dynamic, well-researched presentations featuring in-depth market analysis, technology integration, startup budgets, revenue models and training strategies.

This year, a team from C.C. Winn proudly earned first place, demonstrating outstanding innovation, professionalism and creativity.

Team members Enrique Escobedo, Roberto Guillen and Orlando Hernandez, all graduating seniors, stood out for their professionalism and creativity. Under the mentorship of Dr. James Cho, assistant professor in Marketing at RGCOB, the team presented a disruptive idea aimed at a segment of the high growth advanced technology market.

Honorable mention was awarded to two Eagle Pass High School teams. Ricardo Flota, mentored by Jose Maldonado, SRSUI administration, and Alexander Perez, mentored by Dr. Candice Ward, assistant professor of Innovation at RGCOB, showcased ideas backed by research, creativity and clear entrepreneurial vision.

Sul Ross State administrators, including President Carlos Hernandez and Provost Bernardo Cantens, presented the awards and encouraged the continued innovation and entrepreneurship demonstrated by the high school students.

In recognition of their achievements, the winning team and honorable mention teams were awarded significant tuition scholarships, continued mentorship from RGCOB business experts, and additional valuable prizes to support continued growth and development of their ideas.

“At Sul Ross State University, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the creativity, leadership and commitment demonstrated by these outstanding students. I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to our esteemed judges Jose ‘Pepe’ Aranda, Morris Libson and Homero Balderas, for their invaluable contributions to the success of this event,” said Dr. Sumantra Sengupta, Dean of the Rio Grande College of Business.

For more information, please email sumantra.sengupta@sulross.edu or visit https://srinfo.sulross.edu/rgcob/.