Physician assistant student wins $1,500 award for app business model

Physician assistant student Amanda McCreight, from Philadelphia University (PhilaU), recently received the first-place prize at the Top Ram Business Model Competition. 

McCreight's submission to the competition was Mark Your Map, a travel app that she created which tracks an individual's travels and then allows him or her to organize the various memories of the trip. 

The first prize award granted to the winner was a check for $1,500, as well as three months of office space, donated by Make Offices. 

In addition to McCreight's winnings, another team came away with the runner-up award, as well as the innovation award.

Allison Costa, a fashion merchandising and management major; Josh Ferguson, an industrial design major; Tabitha Porter, a graphic design communications major; and Fayez Alalyani, a mechanical engineering major, submitted the Date Mate app, which boasts being able to plan the ideal date. The team won $500 for their submission. 

Judges for the competition included Harvey Hoffman, the founder of HZH Strategy; John Sullivan, attorney from Wertman Law; Amber Wanner, founder of CandiDate Philly; Jason Crook, PhilaU assistant professor of marketing; and alumnus Stuart Segal, a health care industry general manager. 

In addition to coming up with the submissions, the contestants of this competition also had to present their business model canvas as well as a five-to-seven minute pitch. 

"This has given me the confidence to continue moving forward and pursuing this idea," McCreight said.