First “Ideas that Change Our World” poster/pitch competition held at Ohio Northern University

The first “Ideas that Change Our World” poster/pitch competition was held on Friday, April 3, at Ohio Northern University.

Students created posters to present ideas that would improve society, improve health care, use technology to improve peoples’ lives, or create new businesses in northwest Ohio and jobs in the region. Posters were judged on four criteria to evaluate the quality and practicality of the idea and the effectiveness of the presentation to the judges.

Contestants shared with the judges a one-minute summary that stated the problem they addressed, stated the solution they proposed, gave evidence to prove the solution was viable and stated their call to action. $1,000 in cash prizes was awarded to poster competitors.

In the “Ideas that Improve Society” category, a first-place team was led by Andy Marshall, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Bellefontaine, Ohio. The project focused on designing a water-retaining distribution system. The team members were Christopher Beyer, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Bethel, Ohio; James Baumgartner, a freshman electrical engineering major from Medina, Ohio; and Eric Moseman, a sophomore computer engineering major from Ashland, Ohio.

Another first-place group in the category was led by Aaron Anderson, a freshman computer engineering major from Perrysburg, Ohio. This group’s project focused on using solar energy to cook. The team members were Brita LeClair, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Rochester, Mich.; Abdulmalek Alobra, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Washington, D.C.; and Judson Bauman, a junior mechanical engineering major from Sterling, Ohio.

Three teams took second place in the category. Todd Zody, a sophomore electrical engineering major from Lucas, Ohio, led the Stedt Engineering group. The team was comprised of Derick Endicott, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Belle Center, Ohio; Edward Day, a freshman mechanical engineering major from South Charleston, Ohio; Seth Cooper, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Marion, Ohio; and Travis Althouse, a freshman civil engineering major from Harpster, Ohio.

The second group was led by James Kornaus, a freshman civil engineering major from Villa Park, Ill. Their project concerned Obezag’s engineering. The team members were Matthew Yingling, a freshman computer engineering major from Canton, Ohio; Richard Girardot, a freshman mechanical engineering major from West Chester, Ohio; Alex Thomas, a freshman electrical engineering major from Westerville, Ohio; and Brad Annan, a freshman civil engineering major from Marysville, Ohio.

The third project focused on recycling fossil fuels and was done by Chris Tylenda, a senior environmental studies major from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

In the “Ideas that Improve Health Care” category, first place went to David Motz, a fifth-year pharmacy student from West Farmington, Ohio. With team member Steve Mabe, a fifth-year pharmacy student from Ashville, Ohio, Motz proposed the creation of a diabetic clinic.

Three teams were awarded second place, including Andrew Michel, a senior marketing major from Clayton, Ohio, for a project on reduced medical costs in universities.

A team led by Mark Stechschulte, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Findlay, Ohio, created the project “Shoes for Cameroon.” The team members were Michael Abraham, a freshman civil engineering major from Olmsted, Ohio; Justin Maag, a freshman electrical engineering major from Pandora, Ohio; and Nicholas Baker, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Loveland, Ohio.

Anthony Dilisio, a sophomore computer engineering student from Concord, Ohio, led a team focusing on affordable malaria protection. Team members were Tyler Flick, a freshman civil engineering major from Marysville, Ohio; Kevin Sigg, a senior civil engineering major from Maumee, Ohio; and Corey VanSickle, a freshman mechanical engineering major from New Philadelphia, Ohio.

In the “Ideas that Use Technology to Improve our Lives” category, first place went to the team led by Stephen Graessle, a sophomore computer engineering student from Chesapeake, Va. The project was called “Thirst for Life,” and the team members were Daniel Ashburn, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Streetsboro, Ohio; William Melton, a freshman civil engineering major from Lafayette, Ohio; and Craig Berger, a freshman civil engineering major from Avon, Ohio.

Second place went to three teams. Michael Krummrey, a sophomore criminal justice major from Alger, Ohio, pitched his project, “Preventable Drunk Driving.” Patrick Dochenetz, a sophomore marketing major from Grand Blanc, Mich., presented his project concerning recruiting for football teams.

Spencer Cupp, a freshman electrical engineering major from Arlington, Ohio, led a team project on water distillation. The team members were Ronald Grzybowski, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Ada, Ohio; Drew Gaynor, a sophomore computer engineering major from Wauseon, Ohio; and David Roberts, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Delton, Mich.

In the “Ideas that Create Jobs in Ohio” category, senior management major Curtis See took first place with his project, “Eastman’s Powersports.” Three teams took second place.

Stephanie Sheets, a fifth-year pharmacy student from Butler, Ohio, placed second with her project “Stephanie’s Pies.” Isaac Bernard, a senior management major from Attica, Ohio, also took second place with his project on dune buggies.

Mark Howard, a senior management major from Gahanna, Ohio, led a team project proposing an indoor miniature golf business. The team members were Jeremy Berg, a senior accounting major from Lima, Ohio, and Justin Yoder, a senior management major from Baltic, Ohio.

Trevor Ballinger, a junior management major from Findlay, Ohio, led a team proposing the creation of a golf course in Ada, Ohio. The team members were Richard Meadows, a senior management major from Hendersonville, Tenn., and Dustin Woods, a junior management major from Delaware, Ohio.

The first poster/pitch competition was considered a success and was well covered by the media. The entrepreneurship program in The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration plans on making it an annual event.