.png?w=930&q=100)
St. Lawrence College (SLC) is thrilled to announce that five of the eight teams advancing to the final round of the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge 2023 final round are SLC student teams. The in-person pitches take place at Kingston’s City Hall on Friday, March 10, 2023.
The SLC teams heading to the final pitches are:
1. Kingston SnapPods – Public Sector Innovation Stream
A stationary photo and information station strategically placed at Kingston hotspots, providing tourists and locals a convenient way to capture memories and learn about the city's attractions.
Ma. Lourdes Engo and Sam Cowan, Business Marketing program, Faculty Advisor - Pam Armstrong
2. Accessible Public Washrooms – Dunin-Deshpande Smart Kingston Stream
Introducing automated and self-cleaning washrooms to popular downtown spaces.
Manglesh Saurabh, Lakshit Kohli, and Sahil Singh, Project Management program, Faculty Advisor - Deanna Davies
3. The Global City Initiative – Public Sector Innovation Stream
Organization to develop international onboarding initiatives for the Kingston community.
Ashish Kumar, Yashvee Tusharkumar Shah, Jethro Paolo Patrocinio, Project Management program, Faculty Advisor - Deanna Davies
4. Team Co-Labs – Public Sector Innovation Stream
A cloud-based storage system for vulnerable individuals to safely and securely store their essential documentation, including identification, bank cards, and other data that can be easily lost or stolen.
Emma VandenAnker, Blake Hannaford, Bram Eliot-Wilson, and Jen Probert, Community and Justice Services program, Faculty Advisors - Derek Davies and Sherri Taylor
5. Pride Hub – Public Sector Innovation Stream
A 2SLGBTQIA+ Virtual Training and Awareness Hub.
Nancy Espinosa Vargas, Roseanne Sharon Borromeo, Health Care Administration program, Faculty Advisor - Ekta Singh
“I want to thank our faculty, who have worked hard to coach, mentor, guide, and encourage these students along the way,” said Patrick Egbunonu, Associate Dean, School of Business. “I’m also very thankful for the support, coaching, and resources that Steve Janssens and the team at the SLC Craig Center of Innovation have provided and continue to provide to the teams heading to the final pitch event. This is another testament to the collaborative support that our various SLC teams continue to provide to our students.”
“I’m so proud of all our student teams and faculty advisors,” said Glenn Vollebregt, SLC President and CEO. “The fact that we have five of the eight teams going into the final pitch speaks to the hands-on learning that is integral to our programs and the creativity and innovation that is continually fostered in the college environment.”
The winning team of the Dunin-Deshpande Smart Kingston Stream will receive admission to a four-month incubator program with the Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre. As part of this experience, they will be granted up to $4,000 seed capital to build a venture around their idea, along with full participation in the Queen's Innovation Centre Summer Initiative (QICSI) program, and the opportunity to pitch again in August for a grand prize of $30,000 to accelerate their innovation.
Winners from the Public Sector Innovation Stream will receive a four-month paid internship with a municipal department with the City of Kingston. The winning team will be awarded an operating budget of $10,000 to implement their idea, and gain access to a full slate of resources and mentorship from City staff. The winning team will also be exposed to a variety of other projects underway at the City and will have the opportunity to build skills and gain invaluable government experience, applicable in any career.
About the Challenge
The City of Kingston, in partnership with Queen's University, St. Lawrence College and the Royal Military College of Canada, has the honour of continuing to host this collaborative problem-solving platform and experiential learning opportunity now in its third year. Learn more.
-30-