Massapequa resident Orville Davis, a senior at Farmingdale State College, has won a $10,000 first prize in the Energy and Environment category at the New York Business Plan Competition. The prize was awarded for an environmentally friendly app Davis designed, called Scrap-it!
Scrap-It! pairs homeowners with junk they want to get rid of with haulers in their area who then take as much of the junk as possible to recycling centers instead of landfills.
Previous to the New York State competition, Orville, his wife Cynthia, and three other Farmingdale students won three competitions at the College, with winnings totaling $3,500.
"I have Farmingdale to thank for re-igniting my entrepreneurial spirit," Davis said. "My professors have been wonderful in guiding me towards the path of being my own boss and creating opportunities and jobs for others."
Davis will receive a BS in Global Business Management later this month. He is a President's List and Dean's List student, and president of the College's Entrepreneur and Innovation Club.
About Davis, Dr. Betty Feng, assistant professor of business management, said: "It is my great pleasure to work with Orville and Cynthia through their journey from a spark of an innovative idea to a well-developed business plan. Orville has all the qualities of a successful entrepreneur: curious, driven, and dedicated, with tremendous leadership and communication skills. No matter how Scrap-It! turns out in the future, I have no doubt that Orville, with his entrepreneurship mindset, will be an inspiring leader to influence others."
