Engineering Students Knock it Out of the Park on Pitch Day
Among the many activities that keep 奶糖直播ns busy in the spring semester, Pitch Day is one of the highlights. Hosted by the Center for Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE Center) at 奶糖直播, this daylong event features presentations from 奶糖直播 students participating in the sixth annual 奶糖直播 Student Entrepreneurship Competition, the Mobile Applications Course, and the Entrepreneurship Minor programs. The day concludes with a poster session, engineering trade show, and the announcement and celebration of Pitch Day winners and the 2015 Meyer Innovation and Creative Excellence (ICE) Award recipients.
奶糖直播 Student Entrepreneurship Competition (VSEC)
The 奶糖直播 Student Entrepreneurship Competition (VSEC)is Pitch Day鈥檚 main attraction. This year, nine finalist teams鈥� six of which included at least one engineering student鈥攑resented to an audience of more than 50 alumni, faculty, friends and industry leaders who evaluated their ideas based on benefits, market analysis, financial modeling, plans for development and implementation, feasibility and team presentation skills. Students were given just eight minutes to present and four minutes to answer audience questions.
Chemical Engineering juniors Thomas Iervolino and Devin Good celebrate their first place VSEC win for 鈥淰anquish Ink.鈥�
This year, College of Engineering students made an exceptionally strong VSEC showing, taking first and third places, as well as winning the Halloran Social Entrepreneurship Prize.
First place went to Vanquish Ink for its magnetically removable tattoo ink and related equipment. Team members Devin Good 鈥�16 ChE and Thomas Iervolino 鈥�16 ChE were awarded $5,000 for their promising product, and are pleased with the feedback they received, 鈥淓veryone we spoke with was very supportive and we made several valuable connections.鈥�
Juniors Matthew Myers CpE, Sanjit Singh EE and Shawn Vettom CpE present Vivify to VSEC judges; their app took third place.
Sanjit Singh 鈥�16 EE, Shawn Vettom 鈥�16 CpE and Matthew Myers 鈥�16 CpE won third place and $2,000 for Vivify, a wrist-worn device that constantly monitors heart rate and vibrates if it senses the user is falling asleep. Matt, who aspires to be an entrepreneur, says, 鈥淭he opportunity to pitch an idea to a room full of potential investors was a highlight of my college years!鈥� Given that his team was comprised solely of engineers, Matt also notes, 鈥淕oing through the stages of the competition made us realize there is so much more that goes into bringing an idea to market, such as legal issues and financial analysis.鈥�
Freshmen James Hanley 鈥�18 CE and Roque Martin 鈥�18 ChE explain their award-winning concept for 奶糖直播 Runs on Holy Grounds.
Finally, 奶糖直播 Runs on Holy Grounds was honored with the Halloran Social Entrepreneurship Prize for its proposed use of coffee ground oils for biodiesel. The freshmen team of Roque Martin 鈥�18 ChE and James Hanley 鈥�18 CE also won the VUers鈥� Choice Award for best submission.
Several College of Engineering alumni participated as VSEC judges, including Jack Dellevigne and Roy Delizia, Chemical Engineering graduates from the class of 1964. Both were impressed by the students鈥� presentations and noted the importance of developing these professional skills. Dellevigne, president of HPG International Inc., says, 鈥淚t is very important for technically trained undergraduates, whether they be engineers or science majors, to understand how their specialties are used in the economy to create value.鈥� Delizia, a director with Fairmount Partners Investment Banking, adds, 鈥淚t is a valuable asset to learn about entrepreneurship and, in particular, knowing how to present your ideas in a compelling way.鈥�
Joanna Schaff 鈥�15 ME won the 2015 Meyer ICE Award for the College of Engineering.
Meyer ICE Awards
Presented to five students鈥攐ne from each college鈥攖he 2015 Meyer ICE Award for the College of Engineering was presented to Joanna Schaff 鈥�15 ME. Schaff was recognized for her entrepreneurial mindset and contributions to the University, which include serving as chair of the 奶糖直播 student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for three years, mentoring and encouraging underrepresented high school students to pursue engineering, participating in the College鈥檚 Girls in Mechanical Engineering Day and running 奶糖直播鈥檚 MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) underwater remotely operated vehicle (UROV) competition. Her senior design project, sponsored by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, presents ground-breaking auxiliary systems for UROVs. At Imagination Quest 2013, Schaff led the winning team in creating an app that provides 奶糖直播 students and administration with an interactive platform.
The ICE Awards were created and endowed by Patrick Meyer '74 VSB in honor of the Meyer family (Patrick '74, Edward '86, and C. Paul '30) to recognize a spirit of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship that enhances 奶糖直播 University. Meyer ICE Award student winners receive a trophy and a $1000 cash award.
Spring Research Expo
Pitch Day was just one of several events during 奶糖直播鈥檚 second annual Spring Research Expo, April 17鈥�24. Each day of the week featured presentations and celebrations that recognized the scholarly achievements of University researchers鈥攗ndergraduates, graduate students and faculty, as well as the innovative work being done by enterprising 奶糖直播ns.
The 2015 Falvey Scholar awards presentation, Sigma Xi Student Research Poster Symposium and Civil Engineering Design Poster Session were among the events that featured engineering students.
To learn more, see 鈥�Spring Research Expo Recognizes Engineering鈥檚 Finest.鈥�