Students’ entrepreneurial projects will be highlighted during NDSU’s Innovation Challenge Showcase, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Plains Ballroom. The campus community and the public are invited to attend the event, which is sponsored by the NDSU Research and Technology Park.
A total of 86 students in 40 teams will compete in four categories: Product, Service, Agriculture and Social Impact. The winner in each category will receive a $5,000 prize, second place is $1,000 and third place is $500. Showcase attendees also can vote for the $1,000 “People’s Choice Award.”
“We are excited to give these students a platform to share their innovative ideas with NDSU and Fargo-Moorhead,” said Chuck Hoge, executive director of the NDSU Research and Technology Park. “The ability to use innovation in the workplace is a necessary skill regardless of the industry, and we feel very lucky to be able to coach students through that process and reward their hard work and success.”
The competition judging is private and will occur earlier on Jan. 30.
The prize winners in each category will be honored at the Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony, set for Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fargodome.
The luncheon event is scheduled to include remarks from NDSU President Dean Bresciani; Scott Beaulier, dean of business; and Jeff Stamp, founder of Bold Thinking LLC, Twin Cities.
In addition, the recipient of the Ozbun Entrepreneurial Fellowship will be announced. The fellowship is a collaboration between the NDSU College of Business and the NDSU Research and Technology Park and recognizes students who are interested in pursuing entrepreneurship in their education and in their careers.
“It’s important to take time to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the Innovation Challenge students and all the community organizations that work to support innovation and entrepreneurship at NDSU,” Hoge said. “We are looking forward to using this year’s awards luncheon as the starting point rather than the finish line when it comes to supporting students in their entrepreneurial endeavors.”
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