Penn State Student Heading to Nationals at EO's Global Student Entrepreneur Awards

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - Oct 20, 2014) - Penn State student, Mike Zaengle, won the DC Regional Competition of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) on Thursday for his startup, GreenTowers, LLC, a LEED accredited urban agricultural and ecological research and design firm. Zaengle's company develops novel solutions for small-shareholder farmers to grow local produce directly within urban food deserts.

Zaengle, a fifth year architecture student, presented to a panel of nine DC and Boston area judges from the Entrepreneurs' Organization -- a global network of more than 10,000 members in 142 chapters in 46 countries worldwide. He competed against four other regional finalists in order to advance to the next round. The competition was held at 1776, which serves as a global hub for startups tackling major challenges in education, energy, health care, government, and other critical industries

The Entrepreneurs' Organization's (EO) GSEA is the premier global competition that honors the top high school, college and graduate students who have founded and are running revenue-generating businesses. EO will host its National Competition in Chicago from Nov. 19-20, where Mike Zaengle will compete for a chance to go to Global Finals in April 2015. The winner of the Global Finals competition in DC will receive $20,000 and the title of Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year.

"I had no idea that GreenTowers could achieve these heights -- it started out as a student project and through GSEA we're becoming a nationally recognized firm. The support I've gotten from EO has been amazing," said Mike Zaengle, founder, GreenTowers, LLC. "I'm looking forward to Nationals and my chance to compete against some of the top student entrepreneurs in the country."

"EO's Global Student Entrepreneur Awards is an incredible opportunity for young business leaders who want to push their development and take their business to the next level," said Adam Robinson, founder and CEO of Hireology and committee chairman for EO's GSEA. "GreenTowers is an example of how hard work, perseverance and passion can turn an idea that started in college into an incredible business."

About the Entrepreneurs' Organization's Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
As the premier global competition for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) represents more than 1,700 of the prominent student entrepreneurs from more than 32 countries. Built on a mission to inspire students to start and grow entrepreneurial ventures, GSEA brings global visibility to pioneering student business owners. Since 1998, the GSEA, a program founded at the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University, has honored outstanding students who simultaneously attend university full-time while running their own businesses. The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) took on leadership of the GSEA in 2006 to offer student entrepreneurs access to a global network of mentors, resources and connections from the most influential community of entrepreneurs in the world. To nominate a student entrepreneur or to get involved, go to GSEA. Then join the conversation on Facebook and follow GSEA on Twitter at @EO_GSEA.

About the Entrepreneurs' Organization
The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) is a global, peer-to-peer network of more than 10,000 influential business owners with 142 chapters in 46 countries. Founded in 1987, EO is the catalyst that enables leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow, leading to greater success in business and beyond.