UCO Student Innovators Earn Top Honors at Love's Entrepreneur's Cup
June 26, 2025
University of Central Oklahoma students celebrated success at the 21st annual Entrepreneur’s Cup Business Plan Competition, presented by Love’s Travel Stops, taking home first- and third-place finishes.
The statewide, collegiate entrepreneurial competition, managed by Oklahoma-based Innovation to Enterprise (i2E), simulates the real-world process of researching a market, writing a business plan and presenting it to potential investors.
Jazmine Ivery, a senior philosophy major from Norman, Oklahoma, captured top honors in the 90-second pitch competition in the High Growth Undergraduate Division, receiving a $1,000 cash prize.
Central’s team brought home third place in the High Growth Division, taking home $5,500. The team, ZeroCrossing™, includes J.P. Jeffries, a sophomore general business major from Oklahoma City, and Ivery.
ZeroCrossing™ uses new technology to practice the timing of speech sounds rather than pitch to stimulate the brain. This innovation aims to improve speech clarity for cochlear implant users without additional surgery.
In the Small Business Division, Lilia Herrera, a senior management major from Oklahoma City, placed third for her work on KitchenKeeper, taking home $5,000.
KitchenKeeper is a restaurant inventory app designed for small food service businesses in Oklahoma and Texas, offering automated tracking through invoice scanning, smart labeling and real-time usage insights.
"I’m thrilled to congratulate our students on their incredible performance at this year’s Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup in multiple divisions," said Jeremy Oller, J.D., Ph.D., dean of the UCO College of Business.
"Jazmine Ivery, J.P. Jeffries and Lilia Herrera impressed with their innovation, professionalism and hard work through ventures in ZeroCrossing™ and KitchenKeeper. All three have made UCO proud and continue to show what’s possible with passion and persistence."
The teams were advised by Maurice Haff, instructor of entrepreneurship at UCO. Since 2005, UCO has competed in 17 consecutive tournaments, with Haff leading 37 teams to 15 wins.
In 2024, UCO students took first place in the High Growth Undergraduate Division, a first for the university. The team, MagnaZation™, included Ivery and Jeffries.
Throughout the 20-year history of the competition, formerly known as the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup, $2.7 million in cash has been awarded, and more than 2,970 students have competed
For more information about the Love's Entrepreneur's Cup, visit www.i2e.org/loves-cup.
For more information about Central's entrepreneurship program, visit uco.edu.
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Cutline: University of Central Oklahoma students celebrated success at the 21st annual Entrepreneur’s Cup Business Plan Competition, presented by Love’s Travel Stops, taking home first- and third-place finishes. The statewide, collegiate entrepreneurial competition, managed by Oklahoma-based Innovation to Enterprise (i2E), simulates the real-world process of researching a market, writing a business plan and presenting it to potential investors. Pictured, left to right, Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer for Love’s Travel Stops; Jazmine Ivery, a senior philosophy major from Norman, Oklahoma; and, J.P. Jeffries, a sophomore general business major from Oklahoma City.
