Ellington

As the Husky band's baton twirler, Amy Galbraith is used to exposure. Football fans would have a tough time not watching her — she throws and spins her baton 10 feet in the air, does the splits and catches it with one hand, making it all look easy in her bright-sequined leotard.

Starting as early as this spring, fans will have the chance to see Galbraith, along with several other Husky women, all year long in a UW women's calendar.

"It's a good way to represent girls at UW in a non-sexual way," Galbraith said. "I think it will amplify the fact that I am proud to represent the UW as a baton twirler."

The idea of a UW calendar came from a group of about five business students enrolled in "Entrepreneurship: Creating a Company." The two-quarter-long class requires students to form companies, write a business plan, pitch the idea to real investors and use investors' money to launch their business.

"It's a great way to gain experience of really running a company," said junior Zach Meissner, chief financial officer of student company Heatwave Media. "The class gives us an excellent opportunity to go through the hiccups without bearing the full responsibility."

The group hatched the idea for a university calendar after analyzing the strengths of group members, Meissner said.

"We have some of the most talented sales people, business people here," he said. "We also had a lot of photography talent, and we just used that as a starting point."

Meissner had originally thought of making a sexier, swimsuit calendar, choosing models based on appearance as well as campus activities and GPA. After many late night and early morning discussions, the group decided instead on a student focus, opting for photos of models around campus instead of in bikinis.

"We felt that using these photos will allow us to reach a broader target," Meissner explained. "Instead of having the incoming freshmen boys buying the calendar, we'll have the grandmothers of freshmen boys buying the calendars, too."

Entrepreneurship lecturer John Castle guides the groups throughout their business endeavors, picking plans apart and "tearing them to pieces," Meissnert said.

"The calendar's a good idea," Castle said. "They've found a product that a lot of people would buy."

Groups receive funding based on their business pitches to the panel of investors, Castle explained. The amount of backing is based upon the quality of the business plan, with all profits donated to the UW Business School. For groups, the challenge is not only to make a solid plan of action, but in the execution. Turning a profit is just a bonus.

"Making money isn't the entire point," Castle said. "It's a great opportunity for students to learn whether entrepreneurship is really what they want to do."

Meissner said he believes the UW calendar will be a success.

"Most major universities have student calendars," he said. "Plus, men like to have calendars on their wall. We're offering them something that speaks to them as students and shows pride in their university."

Along with "tasteful" photos of aesthetically pleasing females, the calendar will have useful UW dates, such as registration days, school breaks and test weeks. Business deals have been struck with the University Book Store, and the group has plans to spread its product to other local businesses with Husky connections, Meissner said.

"The calendar is tasteful –— it's not a Sports Illustrated shoot," he explained. "It's going to connect students even more to their university, [and] show pride in the UW."

Reach reporter Tasha Thomas at features@thedaily.washington.edu.