Student Testimonials

"From developing a pipeline for affordable prosthetics to designing sustainable meal delivery kits, each Innovate-A-Thon has tested my problem-solving skills and reinforced my passion for product design. This program has been a major part of my academic journey, allowing me to apply my education in real-world scenarios while working with a diverse group of peers. I am incredibly grateful to be part of this evolving and impactful experience!"

"Participating in the Recycling and Sustainability IAT was an incredible experience! Collaborating with a diverse and passionate team, we tackled waste management challenges by developing an innovative solution that turns bottle returns into lottery tickets. This program not only sharpened my problem-solving skills but also reinforced the importance of sustainability-driven innovation. I'm excited to continue exploring impactful solutions for a greener future!"

“Being involved in Innovate-A-thon allowed me to use skills I have acquired through academics and directly apply them to a real-life problem that can feasibly be implemented. I greatly enjoyed my time working with students who had different backgrounds, ideas, and experience than me, along with the guidance of mentors and professionals in the program, which truly provided the tools we needed to ideate and design our idea. I look forward to taking what I learned these past 2-weeks and applying it in my future endeavors." 

"The Innovate-A-Thon program was an amazing experience that allowed me to meet others in the community and get invaluable experience integrating my engineering background with the larger business aspect of product design. It was a well organized way to take on a two week sprint with incredible instructors and great resources that I have continued to reference outside of the program."

​“Innovate-a-thon allowed me to connect with others with different skills and viewpoints to address a common issue. Because of this connection, I thought of things in a new way and each person brought something to the table that made our group work diverse. This internship allowed me to use my studies in a way that puts into practice what I learned, rather than thinking theoretically. I recommend Innovate-a-thon!”

​"Participating in Innovate-A-Thon was an entirely new experience for me, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. My initial meeting with Steven left me impressed by the opportunity it offers to foster growth, gain an innovation mindset, and tackle a real-world problem. The challenge of collaborating with my team to develop a feasible and cost-effective solution within just three weeks was both exciting and rewarding. I highly recommend Innovate-A-Thon to anyone seeking hands-on experience with projects and interested in innovating."

​"Participating in the IAT regenerative agriculture sprint internship was an enriching experience that strengthened my resilience, time management skills, team spirit, and ability to conceptualize and implement innovative ideas. This was my first time working on an AI-driven project, and it provided me with valuable insights into developing digital solutions for regenerative and sustainable crop production. Collaborating in a multidisciplinary team and receiving mentorship from Bayer Crop Science was an invaluable experience that deepened my appreciation for technology-driven agricultural solutions."

"Participating in the Rechargeable Battery Innovate-A-thon was an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to expand my skills beyond technical work and into marketing and communication. As a chemical engineering student, this project taught me how to bridge the gap between real-world solutions and consumer adoption, a critical skill for driving innovation. Winning first place shows how important it is to translate expertise into impactful messaging. This experience has made me a more versatile engineer and will be invaluable as I pursue a career focused on sustainability and impact."

"The Innovate-a-Thon experience provided an incredible opportunity to collaborate with talented individuals and push the boundaries of innovation. Working on our prosthetic knee design, we combined creativity and engineering to develop a cost-effective, efficient solution for amputees. This event not only sharpened our technical skills but also reinforced the importance of accessible, impactful design in improving lives globally."

"My experience during the Innovate-A-Thon is one that I am very grateful for. I learned very valuable skills in both teamwork and innovation while working to develop a prosthetic knee. As a freshman in Mechanical Engineering, I didn't know what to expect when joining a fast-paced program like this because I felt like I would be underqualified. My team, however, helped me to learn and grow while putting the skills and ideas I had to use."

"The IAT internship was a valuable experience, focusing on the design and development of custom prosthetics. I gained deep insights into the complexities of creating prosthetics, particularly in addressing the challenges unique to Tanzania. I found the process of innovating between the initial clinical assessment and the modification/rectification prior to building the test socket both challenging and rewarding. This experience has enhanced my understanding of prosthetic design and its real-world applications."
 

"The Bayer Innovate-A-thon Internship was an energizing, fast-paced experience that pushed me to think creatively and collaboratively. I had the chance to blend my plant science background with engineering concepts to help design sustainable solutions for real agricultural challenges. Working with such a driven, multidisciplinary team was inspiring. It reminded me how powerful cross-disciplinary thinking can be when tackling the future of food and farming."

"The program was challenging yet very rewarding as I was able to develop skills in innovation and problem-solving. This experience allowed me to collaborate and work on a meaningful project, further increasing my passion for STEM. The program also opened up many opportunities to network and create connections with professionals and peers who share similar goals. Overall, the program has left a lasting impression, motivating me to use my skills to make a positive difference."