National Entrepreneurship Week is Feb. 18- 25 and Haywood Community College is celebrating with a week-long schedule of events.  These events will allow HCC to focus on the college’s strengths in the areas of entrepreneurship, sustainability and creativity.

At noon Monday, Feb. 20, Meredith Carpenter, entrepreneurship Instructor, will facilitate an event called Showcase for Student Entrepreneurs. The hour and a half event will provide prizes for students who pitch their ideas to faculty, staff and other students. The first-place prize if $200; second place is $100 and third-place is $50.

The event will be held in the college library.

From 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Andrew Sanderbeck will give a presentation on how to "Give a Dynamite Speech:  Sharpen Your Presentation Skills."

Sanderbeck will offer tips for developing powerful, dynamic and persuasive presentations, ways to overcome stage fright and to control your nerves, create an awareness of your individual strengths and weaknesses in delivering presentations to help you to be more successful each time you present understanding the importance of effective use of appearance, voice and body language, and three techniques to create your connection with the audience quickly and effectively.

The event will be in the Student Center Auditorium and is open to the public.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Michelle Choate, business administration instructor, will facilitate an event where students can learn from the Sequoyah Fund and local business

owners on how to finance and succeed in business. The event will be on the first floor of the student center and will start at 3 p.m.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, there will be a forum on salon ownership beginning at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium.

Denise Finger, cosmetic arts instructor will facilitate a panel of professionals in the cosmetic arts industry of local entrepreneurs will be present to share their years of experience, and questions about the industry and their professional success.

The event is open to the public.

On Friday, Feb. 24, freshman Haywood Early College students will have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on entrepreneurship activity, Meet The Benjamins.

Meredith Carpenter, entrepreneurship instructor, will facilitate the event that starts at 1:30 p.m. in Room 201 of the Haywood Early College building.

For more information about HCC’s Entrepreneurship Week activities, contact David Forester, HCC Department Chair of Business & Entrepreneurship, at 627-4594.