The Walter Center for Career Achievement is pleased to announce the 2023 Connect Challenge Pitch Competition winners.
The Connect Challenge, an idea pitch competition for the IU College of Arts + Sciences, was sponsored by the Dimension Mill, IU Ventures, IU Shoemaker Innovation Center, and IU Johnson Center.
Students presented their innovative ideas in front of a panel of judges on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Ernie Pyle Hall and winners were announced the next day at the Connect Conference in the IMU. Winners and runners-up in each category receive scholarship money, up to $2,000, and other gifts, including a part-time membership to The Mill.
Creative Endeavors:
Winner:
- Love and Curse-Breaking
- Genevieve Horvath, B.A. ‘25, English
- Fairy tales featuring underrepresented groups.
Runner Up:
- Return from Faerie
- Mitchell Black, B.A. ‘23, Individualized Major Program
- A narrative escape game that engages with multimedia.
Nonprofit and Social Good:
Winner:
- Hip-Hop and Sneaker Culture - Materials Chem
- Jakyra Simpson, Chemistry Ph.D. Program
- Educational activities that use hip-hop and sneaker culture to teach materials chemistry.
Runner Up:
- Aquatic Twist
- Romey Bell, B.A. ‘23 Environmental & Sustainability Studies, B.S. ‘23 Comprehensive Design
- An installation to improve the water quality of Griffy Lake.
Startups:
Winner:
- Noveltor
- Matthew Joseph, B.S.B. ‘23, Marketing, B.S.B ‘23 Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation
- A software for mental health therapists to help clients make progress.
Runner Up:
- Ghost Town Photographics
- Jesse Kogge, B.S. ‘25 Comprehensive Design
- An accessible analog photography kit.