2013 Gator Innovation Challenge

gator-challenge-logo-new

Sixteen student teams participated in Allegheny’s Sixth Annual Gator Innovation Challenge on Saturday, April 27, in Quigley Hall.  The Gator Innovation Challenge is a competition designed to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among Allegheny students. Each proposal focuses on an innovative project that could create wealth and/or address a community problem, bring together and/or create resources in creative ways and has the potential to make a lasting contribution to the well-being of society.

InnovationChallenge2_web

The first place trophy and a check for $750 was awarded to Allegheny sophomore Clayton Morris.  Clayton began developing his idea submitted for the Gator Innovation Challenge when he was a junior in high school. His proposed venture is Free Eyes, manufacturers of glasses that adjust with a simple twist of a pin. This innovative design allows wearers to utilize their frames longer or share them with others – adjusting for size and prescription changes. For every pair sold, the company plans to donate a pair to someone in need.

Free Eyes

Second place was awarded to sophomores Aaron Zimmerman and Patrick Payne.  There was a tie for third place between Allegheny’s Cory Rectenwald and Chap Cobb of Grove City College.

Allegheny alumni Greg Antoun ’73 of ChipBLASTER in Meadville, Pa., and David Wood ’91 of Foundation Investment Partners in Cleveland, Ohio, served as judges along with Prof. John Golden of the Economics Department and Yvonne English of the eCenter@ LindenPointe in Hermitage, Pa.

InnovationChallenge1_web

Allegheny Senior Elizabeth Moreno and Allegheny Sophomore Tori Delzer received special Awards of Merit for their work as interns in the Economics Department.  As part of their internship, Elizabeth and Tori handled all of the planning, marketing and logistics for the Managerial Economics Board of Visitors Meeting and the Executive Roundtable on April 7-8, 2013 as well as the Gator Innovation Challenge on April 27.  Tori and Elizabeth worked with Entrepreneur-In-Residence Chris Allison ’83, who served as their supervisor.