One entrepreneurial student group is launching a Web site today, offering a new way to keep mouses clicking during class.

UGABoard.com is a Web site launching today designed to connect Athens’ businesses with students and the community. With the Web site’s launch, the University’s Entrepreneurship Program – which created the site – is encouraging students to register. By registering with the site, students will have daily opportunities to win prizes and coupons from participating vendors.

The site has a design similar to the layout of a calculus class’s graph paper. Companies and businesses who purchase an ad on the site pay a flat fee of $35 per year for a block. Vendors choose how many blocks they would like to purchase and use the space for their logos.

Once the desired advertisement size is determined, businesses offer coupons to Web site visitors. Some free items up for grabs include soft drinks, t-shirts, sandwiches and photocopies.

Amie Jones, manager of City Salon, said she is excited about the effect the Web site may have on her business.

“It’s very cost effective,” Jones said. “I think it will work well. It might not, but you just got to give it a try.”

City Salon is offering free eyebrow waxes as a prize for individuals using with the site.

For users to win, they must click on every advertisement until a pop-up window declares them winners. The link will then connect the user to the coupon or free prize from that particular vendor.

Though the Web site mainly reaches out to students, Athens locals are still eligible to win items.

“I’m still going on the site,” Jones said. “Even though I’m not a student, people still want free stuff and discounts.”

Along with coupons and free prizes, UGAboard.com has “big ticket items” offered twice a month, including iPhones and Visa gift cards.

Christopher Hanks, director of entrepreneurship at the Terry College of Business, said he is excited for today’s launch.

“It’s been a long journey to get where we are,” Hanks said.

As the director of the University’s program, Hanks has done his best to make a unique entrepreneurial program.

“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if our funding came from a business that we launched?” he said.

Hanks said UGABoard.com creates a compelling way for advertisers to reach their consumers.

Working alongside Hanks on the project was Junior Michelle Kourakin of May’s Landing, N.J., and Senior James Tomol of Loganville.

“UGABoard.com is great place to go and see what our town has to offer,” Kourakin said. “Half of the things that have come up while I’ve been working on it are places I didn’t even know were in Athens.”

Kourakin started working on the entrepreneurship project around midterm of last semester.

“It’s really cool. It’s my baby, I absolutely love it,” she said.

Tomol was first introduced to the program behind UGABoard.com by Hanks.

“I was in his Management 5500 class,” said Tomol. “He was so passionate about entrepreneurship, and I went up to him asking how I could help with it all.”

Although the work has been intense, Tomol said he and other students working on the project are optimistic about the launch.

“I’m along for the ride. I’m all about the adventure. It’s taught me so many things. It’s like an internship,” Tomol said. “[I'm] expecting big things, but I’m biased. I worked 40 hours a week for a company that sold plastic. I didn’t like [the job]. Now, I’m spending 80 hours a week on something I love.”