Student creativity took center stage Dec. 3 when the winners of the 2019 Innovation Challenge were announced.
The three-track competition, which is hosted by the NDSU Research and Technology Park, focuses on student ideas with the potential to become a business or are a cause for future research.
“It’s exciting to see the creativity and drive of our students as they turn their ideas into reality,” said Brian Kalk, executive director of the NDSU Research and Technology Park. “I want to thank the students, facility and staff for their superb support this year. Our team is already looking forward to next year’s competition.”
This year’s student honorees include:
Entrepreneurship Track
• DeBard Engineering — Korie DeBardlabon and Ashlin Hickman of NDSU; $2,500 prize
• Course Vision — Rahil Pereira, Michael Mach and Shawn Kontrec of Minnesota State University Moorhead; $2,000 prize
• MycMen — Nicholas Broden of NDSU and Jaclyn Rindy of Mayville State University; $1,500 prize
Honorable Mentions
• Customer Engagement Strategies — Luke Stetler and Mason Stetler of Baylor University; $500 prize
• Aura Air — Samantha Schultz, Dieumerci Christel, Mohammed Ahmed and Terra Thiel of NDSU; $500 prize
Social Track
• PolymeR3 — Martin Eichers, Jeremy Warzecka, Ryder Belgarde, and Evan Wurden of NDSU; $2,500 prize
• Emergency Management Solutions — Marcelo Ferreira of NDSU; $2,000 prize
• Swim Smart — Hunter Pogatchnik and Jacob Johnson of NDSU; $1,500 prize
Graduate Track
• dImager — Fleming Gudagunti and Sharmin Afrose of NDSU; $2,500 prize
• Challengers — Xiaoou Hu and Ru Miao of NDSU; $2,000 prize
• Cell Treat — Beth Ringwelski and Vidura Jayasooriya of NDSU; $1,500 prize
Dates for the 2020 Innovation Challenge have been scheduled:
Sponsor Breakfast, Sept. 17
Hype Night, Sept. 22
Boot Camp 1, Oct. 6
Boot Camp 2, Oct. 20
Project Showcase, Oct. 29
Boot Camp 3, Nov. 17
Final Pitches and Awards, Dec. 1
Sponsors for Innovation Challenge include ND EPSCoR, Sanford Health, Scheels, ComDel Innovation, Dakota Medical Foundation, Gate City Bank, Giant Snacks Inc., Midco, Keith and Cathy Peltier, Wells Fargo, Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corp., Ambassador Cleaning, Moore Engineering, US Bank, Western Products, Bank of North Dakota, Bell Bank, Bremer Bank, Choice Bank, EideBailly, Heyer Engineering, Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors Inc., Nodak Insurance Co., Danielson Legal LLC, MinnDak Computer Services, Remodeling by Foss, Schluchter Investment Advisors and Xcel Energy, Western Products, Southpointe Pharmacy, Western State Bank and Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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