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More than 120 students from six North Carolina universities took part this month in a third annual contest sponsored by the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and by S.E.E.D., a student group at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Innovation Challenge concluded Nov. 22 with an afternoon awards ceremony honoring three teams that were lauded by a panel of local entrepreneurs for their work.

When the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect on Jan. 1, 1994, its goal was to increase trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States by eliminating tariffs and encouraging investment. Seventeen years later, as part of International Education Week 2010 at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, representatives from the three nations met to offer thoughts on the future of the agreement.

Kevin O'Mara, a professor of business administration, and Gary Palin, executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, presented Nov. 12 at the International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosted by the Izmir University of Economics in Izmir, Turkey.

Steve DeLoach, a professor of economics in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, has been named the 2011-11 Hollingsworth Visiting Scholar at Furman University. He will be presenting the Hollingsworth Lecture at Furman on Thursday, November 17.

The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Microfinance Initiative is hosting a Small Business Consultant Training Session on Tuesday, November 16, 5-6 pm in KOBC Room 244. This session is open to students in all majors. The director of the Small Business Center in Graham will discuss how to effectively provide support to local small business, particularly through microfinance and educational tools.

Steve Schuckenbrock ’82, president of Dell Global Large Enterprise, will share his thoughts on the future of computing and information technology with ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ students, faculty and staff at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, in LaRose Digital Theatre. He will receive the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award at the conclusion of the presentation.

Eleven faculty members in the Love School of Business have received Faculty Research & Development funding for academic year 2010-2011.