The Elon Innovation Challenge concluded another successful year, highlighting the creativity and ingenuity of Elon’s students to help their peers try new experiences.
This year’s competition revolved around the creative prompt: “How might we promote and encourage all Elon students to break out of their comfort zone and explore new opportunities across campus?” The possible solutions came through a variety of prototypes, from apps to interactive platforms, each crafted to strengthen the fabric of campus life. The twenty-seven teams presented their ideas from April 16-18, 2024.
Taking home the grand prize, FLARE, an app developed by Cassidy Parrish ’26 an engineering major and Braxton Mayhew ’26 a marketing major, emerged as a crowd favorite. The app is designed to gamify how students learn about and participate in campus events. FLARE aims to boost event attendance and student engagement through a user-friendly interface, timely notifications, and prizes for attending events.
The second-place prize was awarded to Elon-I, crafted by Joshua Mason ’25 a fintech major, Aaron Satko ’25 a computer science major, and Adam Kanowitz ’24 an entrepreneurship major. This AI-based platform serves as an interactive guide to campus life, enabling students to discover and engage with various opportunities at Elon through a simple conversational interface.
Shriya Baru’s ’25 an accounting major, Kolis Elon Puzzle, which won third place, offers a campus-wide engagement strategy through a series of interactive puzzles, turning the campus into a giant game board that encourages exploration and teamwork.
The fourth place was secured by Elon Explorer Pass, an app created by Aidan Walsh ’26 an entrepreneurship major, Eli Taekla ’26 a strategic communications major, and Bryan Floyd ’25 a finance and entrepreneurship major. The app employs a points-based system to encourage and reward students for their participation in campus activities.
“Each year, I am deeply impressed by the creativity and dedication of our students,” said Alyssa Martina, executive director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “Their ability to envision and prototype solutions that challenge the status quo is not only inspiring but a strong indicator of the innovative future we are nurturing here at Elon.”
The challenge was made possible through the dedicated efforts of numerous individuals.
Event Chairs
- Karl Sienerth, professor of chemistry, Elon College
- Emily Krechel, director for new student programs
- Lars Heidenreich ’24 an entrepreneurship and project management major
- Owen McBryan ’26 a finance major
- Michael Genitrini ’26 a marketing major
- Isaac Feinberg ’26 a strategic communications major
Judges
- John Flynn, associate professor of law, Elon University School of Law
- Betty Garrison, business research librarian
- Lars Heidenreich ’24 an entrepreneurship and project management major
- Emily Krechel, director for new student programs
- Alyssa Martina, executive director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Kim Phipps, program coordinator for the Love School of Business
- Chuom Prak L’24
- Karl Sienerth, professor of chemistry, Elon College
- Anton Wilson, president at Guidance Solutions, LTD