With their sights set on their futures and the ambition to fuel their dreams, ISU students are getting ready to make their marks in the business world.

Lauren Hughes, senior in pre-medicine/zoology and Spanish with a minor in English and entrepreneurial studies, wants to help modernize health care in third-world countries. And to do this, she is going to start her own business.

Hughes said she was inspired to pursue an entrepreneur minor by an article about physicians seeking master’s degrees in business administration. She said her business would distribute information, basic primary care and knowledge to underdeveloped countries.

She recently was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Warner Group Financial Services Company. Founded in 1986, the Warner Group is a financial and investment company based in Sioux City.

“The op-portunity of this scholarship is an incredible one,” she said, “one that I foresee will encourage more students to consider entrepreneurial studies as a minor and, more importantly, will support budding ideas of youthful entrepreneurship.”

The scholarship was established for non-business majors interested in entrepreneurship.

“[Warner Group] supports ISU because it combines entrepreneurial skill with non-business majors,” said Judi Eyles, program coordinator at the ISU Small Business Development Center.

Opportunities for students with the idea and the drive are offered through the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship.

“[Pappajohn] has such a strong belief in giving the young people in Iowa the chance to explore entrepreneurial opportunities for their future,” Eyles said

Three ISU students are in the running for three cash awards of $5,000 from Pappajohn. These three ISU students include Ben Kellen, senior in management; Chris Bruner, graduate student in business administration; and Richard Roush, graduate student in business administration.

These students are among 12 winners from regional competitions at Iowa State, University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, Drake University and Northern Iowa Area Community College.

The students’ business plans outline an idea they hope to turn into a flourishing business.

Kellen’s plan is for a home maintenance service to provide repair services, preventative maintenance and value-added maintenance. “I’ve been doing this stuff my whole life,” he said. “I’ve always had this idea but never seriously considered it until this competition.”

Bruner’s plan, known as Wireless Innovations, uses wireless Internet and portable-computing devices to remotely collect and transmit data. Bruner partnered with his brother Aaron for the venture. “We thought that starting a new business would be a good learning experience,” Bruner said.

Roush, who has owned the West Des Moines Jesse’s Embers for the last nine years, wants to franchise an upscale steakhouse in West Des Moines called Richard’s Steakhouse. “I want to develop my entrepreneurial skills,” he said. “This led me to the competition. I think everyone involved greatly appreciates the opportunity to participate.”