Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is the title sponsor for the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Social Business Challenge, which gives teams of students the opportunity to showcase their ideas, creativity and ingenuity as they present plans for businesses focused on reducing obesity and related health issues rather than making a profit.

Each team has developed a business plan, which will be presented to the judges in a brief oral presentation at the Institutions of Higher Learning Board Room, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. The Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Second Floor Rotunda at the State Capitol.

Open to any public university student, the challenge requires students to work in teams of three to six with at least one faculty adviser. Eleven teams, representing each public university, Alcorn State University's School of Agriculture, Research, Extension and Applied Sciences, Mississippi State University's Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, will compete. The teams may enlist the assistance of professionals or alumni that have expertise in the topic or in building a business plan.

"Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is pleased to support the Social Business Challenge and its efforts in encouraging the next generation of Mississippians to think creatively and strategically to support a healthy Mississippi," said Sheila Grogan, Vice President, Community and Public Relations with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. "We appreciate the vision of these students as they develop plans to build a healthy Mississippi."

Now in its second year, the Challenge asks each team to outline how the proposed business will help reach one of the nine goals identified by Blueprint Mississippi. In 2012, Blueprint Mississippi, an independent cooperative of organizations and leaders, conducted an objective review of Mississippi's economic opportunities and recommended actions for putting Mississippi in the place of greatest opportunity. This included enabling a more prosperous, vibrant and resilient Mississippi built upon a foundation of economic opportunity for all citizens.

The nine Blueprint Mississippi goals include:

1. Increase the Educational Achievement of Mississippians
2. Cultivate a More Robust Workforce in Mississippi
3. Strengthen and Expand Mississippi's Economy
4. Promote Health Care as an Economic Driver
5. Support Mississippi's Creative Economy
6. Continually Develop the Infrastructure for a Competitive Economy
7. Increase Availability of Financial Capital
8. Cultivate Diversity, Community Cooperation and Racial Reconciliation
9. Improve Communication and Coordination Among Public, Private and Non-profit Leaders

In addition to encouraging students to develop ideas for Mississippi's most pressing problems, the Challenge also aims to support learning important lessons about planning, teamwork and presenting ideas.

More information is posted online.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.