STUDENT SUCCESS
University Innovation Fellow: Samantha Schultz
Published December 2016
NDSU sophomore Samantha Schultz has been selected in the latest group of University Innovation Fellows. The national program is designed to empower student leaders to increase campus engagement with innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and design thinking.
Schultz, along with juniors David Syverson and Lydia Gregersen, are among 169 students from 49 institutions in four countries to be selected in the most-recent group of fellows. The program is run by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.
Hometown: Brainerd, Minnesota
Major: Mechanical engineering
What is your reaction to being selected?
I was surprised when Dr. Wells told me that I was a candidate because I was still a freshman, just finishing up my first year in college.
What does being named a fellow mean to you?
Being a fellow, to me, is a great opportunity to make a difference, even in the smallest ways.
Do you have an innovation project in mind for NDSU?
My main project is Innovation Corps, a club here at NDSU, that hopes to continue the spread of innovation on campus. We want to get students connected with the many different challenges and changes that are in the Fargo area.
How will you spark innovation?
I am willing to speak up about our lack of participation in the many opportunities here on campus. We have so many students here, and if we all stepped up together, just think of the mountains that could be moved.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role as a fellow?
I hope to be the voice of change. I’ll try to reach every person possible, and tell them that the future is in our hands. What we do now can make big changes.
What are your career goals?
As of right now, I have no set career goals, except that wherever I go, I want to be doing something I can be proud of. At the end of the day, I hope that I can make even the smallest of differences.
In March 2017, Schultz, Syverson and Gregersen can participate in the Silicon Valley Meetup, where they will participate in experiential workshops and exercises.
