Two Central College students participated in the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurship competition held at Drake University in early April. Representing Central were North Lindell, Class of 2026 business management major and Spanish minor, from Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kami Sickels, Class of 2024 business management major and entrepreneurship minor, from Des Moines, Iowa.
The John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition contest encourages and promotes entrepreneurial activity and creates greater awareness of the resources available to entrepreneurs in Iowa. On presentation day, guest speakers and workshops were held for students to network and gain experience.
Lindell participated in the pitch competition and attended the “Design Dash,” a group-based simulation exercise to develop business solutions for rural manufacturers.
Sickels is completing an experiential internship this semester running her social media agency. To help advance her small business, she participated in networking sessions as well as seminars on generative AI, entrepreneurial well-being and financial modeling.
Matthew Sutter, lecturer of accounting, serves as the faculty advisor. Central offers a minor in entrepreneurship.
“Kami and North each have that perfect combination of enthusiasm, drive and creativity that helps entrepreneurs succeed,” Sutter says. “These are the qualities we seek to develop with our minor degree program. We want students to go beyond the classroom and learn how to run businesses in the real world. This event was a perfect way for Kami to further her education and her business by networking with industry experts and other entrepreneurs. For North, he was able to adapt classroom materials for his pitch. It’s exciting to see their education working outside of the classroom.”
Photo caption: Central College student North Lindell ’26, second from left, is collaborating with other students in the Design Dash, the night prior to the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurship competition. The Design Dash was a simulation exercise for students from different colleges and universities to get to know each other and attempt to solve problems in the real world.
