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Villanova Freshman Earns Prestigious “Future Entrepreneur”
Scholarship
Edward Pachell ‘04
 Villanova
University has long been known for attracting the brightest of students;
however, one member of class of ’07 shines brighter than all of
the others. 18-year-old Meghan H. Murphy, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
was presented with the “Future Entrepreneur” scholarship for
her genius in creating and marketing her own “imagination”
toy company.
The scholarship, issued by the National Association for the Self-Employed
(NASE) is the nation’s largest annual award for young entrepreneurs
and is given to recognize and motivate the young micro-business leaders
of tomorrow.
Villanova feels honored to have one of its students receive such a prestigious
award, and the story of the behind the award is equally impressive.
Meghan Murphy grew up in a small town in Michigan and since she was very
young had shown much creative genius. The Murphy family’s toy business
started 17 years ago when Meghan’s older sister, created a toy line
known as the BOINKS! Pocket Rocket, an idea which spurred from the child
playing around with various springs in father Kevin Murphy’s automotive
garage.
The family began trading the toy at various toy conventions and fair around
the country and it was marketed globally as well. When Meghan Murphy was
13 she was at a toy convention and noticed a Chinese vendor who was selling
various curiously shaped characters.
“I was very interested in this man’s toys,” Meghan said.
“I had been taking Chinese in elementary school, so I was able to
speak broken Chinese and negotiate with him.”
Meghan proceeded to form a business relationship with the man, and eventually
traveled to a materials manufacturer based in Guangzhou, China. Once a
marketing contract had been made with this supplier, Meghan began producing
the Chinese man’s characters and placing them on top of the original
BOINKS! Pocket Rockets, which would later be called BOINKS! Buddies.
Meghan Murphy was granted the “Future Entrepreneur” scholarship
and with it had the choice of attending practically any university in
the nation.
“It wasn’t a tough choice for me,” Murphy said. “I
knew where I wanted to go to school. My sister graduated from Villanova
a few years ago, and a few of my other relatives have as well. I have
been around Villanova my whole life and have always loved the family feeling
I get when I am on its campus.”
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