Campus Life

New Kensington organizes first 'Idea Challenge' for campus community

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — Penn State New Kensington students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit their innovative ideas for the campus’ first Idea Challenge.

From now until April 15, members of the campus community can submit their ideas for a chance at winning seed funding, mentoring and more through the campus’ entrepreneurial center, The Corner, and its signature programs through the Corner Launchbox.

Who's eligible? All Penn State New Kensington students, faculty and staff members

Where can ideas be submitted? Ideas can be sent via a quick, online form.

For the 2018 challenge, submissions will be accepted through April 15.

What happens after submission? A panel of judges will review all submissions and choose five winners. Winners will be announced at the campus Awards Ceremony on April 27. 

What will the winners receive? Each of the five winners will receive:

  • $500 to support making the ideas reality.
  • Personal entrepreneurship mentoring to begin in May 2018.
  • A spot to attend the four-week Idea TestLab bootcamp (four, two-hour classes) at The Corner entrepreneurial center in June 2018.
  • After idea refinement, earn a spot in the Corner Launchbox accelerator program (10-week bootcamp), a signature program through Invent Penn State.

All winners must agree to enroll in the four-week Idea TestLab course and go through mentoring throughout the summer. 

Cash awards are made after the ideas have gone through the above process and a final pitch to reviewers is made. Keep in mind that ideas don't have to be successful, they just have to be pursued in earnest to receive the award. 

For more information, visit http://newkensington.psu.edu/idea-challenge.

Jennifer Gilley, head librarian, writes down her group's ideas as Patricia Hollinger, director of continuing education, and Yang Xu, associate professor of business look on. The first-ever "Corner CON" aimed to create and build awareness of innovation and entrepreneurship, engage participants through collaborative ideation, and begin to articulate action steps the campus will take to integrate innovation and entrepreneurship on and off campus for student success. Credit: Corinne Coulson / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated April 3, 2018