UPB Student Receives Grant for Business

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford student Andrew Hwang, a business management major from Horsham, is the first recipient of the NEXT STEP Business Grant Competition.

Sponsored by the Pitt-Bradford entrepreneurship program, the grant awarded $1991 to Hwang for enhancements to his business, LPX (Land Party Extreme) Gaming, located on South Avenue in Bradford.

Hwang was one of four students who made presentations before judges Jill Foys of North Central Regional Planning and Development Commission, Brian Jadlowiec of Northwest Savings Bank and Students in Free Enterprise student Alyssa Smith.

“Andrew’s grant request for his LPX Gaming business was distinguished by the fact that Andrew has already started this fledgling business and has put sweat equity and his own money into it,” said Laura Megill, director of the entrepreneurship program. “He talked to his early customers about what they wanted, and his grant was to provide these items. Andrew has demonstrated the drive and work ethic to make the most of this grant.”

Hwang worked three jobs last summer to earn the money to begin his business at the beginning of the academic year. LPX Gaming is a land-party game room, a place where gamers can play multi-party or Internet-based games in the same room. Aside from video games, non-gamers will be able to play party games, board games, watch movies, sing karaoke and study.

Being in the same room provides the gamers with a different, more social experience than playing separately, Hwang said. “I am trying to bring socializing back to video gaming. In this world of Facebook, and the Internet, people have lost touch with social interactions, and this business is just one way to tie them back together.”

Hwang encountered land-party rooms both at home and while studying abroad in South Korea, where they are very popular. He said he has a steady and growing customer base.

Hwang will use the money from the grant to purchase paint and supplies to re-paint the interior of the gameroom and create a more appealing place. Aside from increasing the number of systems in the store, he will buy new seating for gamers and a stereo headset for each system to give the gamers better sound quality and allow them to play their games without outside distractions.

“By combining these features, we can offer our customers a better playing environment, where they are likely to return and play for long hours,” Hwang said. “These are all suggestions that I received from my customers, and was happy to tell them that I could deliver.

“I would love to give the town of Bradford and Pitt-Bradford students a place to gather and enjoy playing games with one another and start attracting more students to go into town. I hope that I continue to grow as I have been, and that I will be able to offer a better service in the time to come.”