Innovation Challenge

April 13, 2015

NC New Schools has created the Innovation Challenge to be held at the 2015 Scaling STEM: Strategies That Engage Minds conference at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center. The Innovation Challenge was created to develop design thinking across its network of schools. This challenge brings together students, educators, and industry professionals to spark innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship which rank highly among the top skills that graduates need to be competitive in the 21st century workforce. Student teams are proposing practical solutions that will positively affect either food availability for a growing population or encouraging healthy behaviors within the community. For students, the goal of the program is to improve skills in teambuilding, designing solutions, learning from failure, and presenting ideas persuasively.

Pitch Information
Eight teams will pitch their proposals to a panel of judges. Each team will present for 5 minutes and have 2 minutes for questions. Judges will select a winning proposal and runner-up proposal; with awards of $2000 for the winner and $1000 for second place. Awards are to support the implementation of the proposals.

Schedule, April 13
2:30 to 3:45 p.m. Student Team Pitches
4:15 p.m. Awards Ceremony

Corporate Sponsor: Cisco Systems

Pitch Challenge Judges:
Allison Bonner - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Carissa Lada - Cisco Systems
Stella Lam - RTI
Kathi Russell - First Citizens Bank

Semi-Finalists Judges:
The individuals below selected the top eight finalists by reviewing written proposals and videos:
Keeva Case - Bull City Forward
Christy Colgan - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Melissa DeRosier - 3C Institute
Sandra Dietrich - Wake Tech
Kathleen Galbraith - Duke Hospital
Patricia Godin - Wake Tech
Noel Heiks - Nuvotronics
Tom Henderson - Cisco Systems
Scott Kelly - Elon University
Aubrey Mast - Plants for Human Health Institute
Chris Peronto - Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Trent Peterson - NetApp

For more information, contact Darrell Kain at dkain@ncnewschools.org.