Daily Pioneer News

From left to right: Alan F. Halfen, Rebecca Gill, Benjamin Reusser & Melissa Boulden look to improve Wisconsin's future economy.

PLATTEVILLE - Four students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently attended the fourth annual Wisconsin Economic Summit Oct. 27-28 at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee.

Each of the students who participated in the summit represented UWP through different organizations, governance groups and campus positions. The four students included Alan F. Halfen, student body president; Benjamin Reusser, chair for the Student Center Advisory Committee (SCAC); Melissa Boulden, vice president of Segregated University Fee Allocation Commission (SUFAC); and Rebecca Gill, student ambassador for the UW-System.

The summit featured numerous thought provoking sessions involving hundreds of statewide leaders in business, labor, government, education and the non-profit sector to inform participants of Wisconsin's economic position.

The length of each session ranged in time from 45 minutes to two hours and offered an informative panel of individuals who discussed numerous economic standpoints associated with the state of Wisconsin. Following each presentation given by the panel, a question and answer session was offered for listeners to debate and share information.

Gov. James Doyle was also present at the summit to deliver his address. Doyle's remarks stressed the importance of entrepreneurs in Wisconsin and targeted the main aspects of his "Grow Wisconsin Plan".

"Our challenges are great, but our potential is limitless," Doyle said. "It is time to grow Wisconsin."

The governor's new Business Plan Contest was presented at the summit as well. The purpose of the contest is to encourage entrepreneurial thinking and planning in Wisconsin to aid in boosting the economy. All Wisconsin residents, 18 or older, are encouraged to apply for the contest and form teams or work independently to formulate their own business. More information regarding the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest may be found at http://www.govsbizplancontest.com.