FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM ADVANTAGEWEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP
MEDIA CONTACTS:
KATHI PETERSEN – 828-712-1286 or
kpetersen@awnc.org (for background & to arrange interviews)
PAM LEWIS – 828-273-8295 or
plewis@awnc.org (for background & to arrange interviews)
DALE CARROLL – 828-230-7510
dcarroll@awnc.org (for interviews)
AdvantageWest Announces Team from WNC as
National Winner of First Annual Juicy Ideas Entrepreneurial/Environmental
Contest
Appalachian State University industrial
design students chosen by national panel of judges for bicycle made from
plastic bottles
(ASHEVILLE,
N.C.) - December 17, 2008 – A
working bicycle made from plastic bottles has emerged as the winning entry in
the first annual Juicy Ideas contest organized by AdvantageWest Economic
Development Group and supported by Google, Inc., and DigitalChalk as a way to
encourage entrepreneurship and communicate a message of environmental
responsibility.
The bicycle
was fabricated by a team of four industrial design students from Appalachian
State University in Boone, N.C., narrowly defeating a wind generator made with
plastic bottles by students from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C.
Rounding out the top five entries were a system using medicine bottles to
eliminate dead zones in the ocean resulting from fertilizer run-off, created by
students from Trident Technical Community College in Charleston, S.C.; wall
insulation using plastic bottles, developed by Western Piedmont Community
College students in Morganton, N.C.; and storm covers for windows developed by
a team from Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla., using plastic shopping
bags.
Members of
the ASU team are Ryan Klinger of Huntersville, N.C.; Andrew Drake of
Gaithersburg, Md.; Spencer Price of Louisville, Ky.; and Justin Henry of San
Diego, Calif. The students learned of their status as national award-winners
from Mary Radomile, Google Program Manager, who notified them via Web
conference in the Board of Trustees room at ASU on Wednesday. Joining in the
surprise celebration were ASU Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock, representatives of
AdvantageWest and DigitalChalk, and a cheering squad of friends, classmates,
faculty and others.
In a letter
presented to the winners, Radomile said, “We are thrilled to have you visit us
at the “Googleplex” in Mountain View, Calif., Feb. 18-20, 2009. During your
visit, you'll experience a full tour of our facilities, meet with innovators
from within the company, and even have a chance to present your video to us. We
are very proud to be a part of the Juicy Ideas competition.”
The team was
among 14 finalists from colleges across the country. Each participating region
had a different “throwaway” item from which students had 10 days to create
something of value and upload a video of their project to YouTube for judging.
The top three teams from each region advanced to the national competition. The
ASU team was the regional winner in Western North Carolina. Their winning video
can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3-tKX446VM.
A panel of
judges individually evaluated each of the entries and how well they performed
in terms of originality, creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and
environmental responsibility. They also evaluated the scalability of each of
the innovations. For each category, they assigned a point value ranging from
one to 10. The judges had no previous knowledge of how the teams placed at the
regional level, nor were they aware of the other judges’ evaluations.
One of the
national judges was Kay Gebhardt, product analyst
with Seventh Generation, a company that makes environmentally friendly
household and personal care products. “Overall, this was an amazing contest to
judge,” said Gebhardt. “I was overwhelmed with
excitement over the innovation and creativity expressed by the teams.”
Another
judge, Zem Joaquin, editor for www.ecofabulous.com,
mentioned the contest in the Huffington Post on Dec. 16, commenting on the students
and their entries: “I am excited about this next generation of idealists
– the thinkers that have made the real shift to seeing the value in
everything that exists, and taking responsibility for the current by-products
of human life.”
Other judges
on the national panel were Rebecca Warren, contributing writer for the
environmental publication, Grist; Rhett Weiss of Google, Inc.; and renowned
entrepreneur and corporate leader David A. Woodcock, Jr., whose accomplishments
include developing and marketing Formula 409.
This was the
first year for the Juicy Ideas contest. According to Dale Carroll, President
and CEO of AdvantageWest, entrepreneurship continues to play a major role in
the global economy and is increasingly important to the long-term health and
growth of rural regions across America.
“As the
economic development commission for the 23 counties of Western North Carolina,
AdvantageWest continuously explores new and innovative paths to encourage the
spirit of entrepreneurship as part of its economic development strategy,” said
Carroll. “We believe one of the best ways to accomplish this is by encouraging
the use of technology and stimulating creativity in the youth of the region
– beginning in kindergarten and continuing through their post-secondary
education.”
“This
competition illustrates the collaborative relationship between our faculty,
staff and students in the areas of sustainability, design and
entrepreneurship,” said Chancellor Peacock. “These students, with their
creativity and team work, are a reflection of the future of our nation. They
are thinking globally and of ways they can impact the world.”
Plans are
already underway for the contest to continue and expand next fall. Juicy Ideas
was also sponsored by American Green and Jute Networks. For more information,
visit www.juicyideascompetition.com.
# # # # #
Top Teams in National Juicy
Ideas Competition
|
|
Place
|
Innovation |
College |
Video |
|
|
1 |
Bicycle
made from plastic bottles |
Appalachian
State University Boone,
N.C. |
|
|
|
2 |
Wind
generator made from plastic bottles |
Western
Carolina University Cullowhee,
N.C. |
|
|
|
3 |
System
to eliminate dead zones in the ocean resulting from fertilizer run-off using glass
pharmaceutical bottles |
Trident
Technical Comm. College Charleston,
S.C. |
|
|
. |
4 |
Wall
insulation using plastic bottles |
Western
Piedmont Comm. College Morganton,
N.C. |
|
|
. |
5 |
Storm
covers for windows using plastic bags |
Rogers
State University Claremore,
Okla. |
|
|
|
6 |
Supplement
to water heater using glass pharmaceutical bottles |
Trident
Technical Community College Charleston,
S.C. |
|
|
. |
7 |
Blankets
made from plastic bags |
University
of Tulsa Tulsa, Okla. |
|
|
8 |
8 |
Wine
steward made from baling twine |
Columbia
Gorge Comm. College The Dalles, Ore. |
|
|
|
9 |
Insulation
in winter coats made from plastic bags |
Creighton
University Omaha
Neb. |
|
|
. |
10 |
Re-usable
shopping bag and flower pot made from plastic bags |
Rogers
State University Claremore,
Okla. |
|
|
. |
11 |
Dorm
garden to insulate plant seeds using plastic bags |
Creighton
University Omaha
Neb. |
|
|
. |
12 |
Bath
mat, jewelry, and rope using baling twine |
Columbia
Gorge Community College The Dalles, Ore. |
|
|
. |
13 |
Shot
glasses made from glass pharmaceutical bottles |
College
of Charleston Charleston,
S.C. |
|
|
. |
14 |
Sprout
bag made from plastic bag |
Iowa
Western Community College Council Bluffs, Iowa |
Juicy Ideas Information & Facts
Facts & Figures
· 28 colleges and universities participated from NC,
SC, Oklahoma, Iowa and Oregon
· 268 teams registered to participate, representing
866 students in all
· 243 videos submitted for judging
Participating
Schools & Regional Contests
·
Western North Carolina
o Throwaway item: Plastic Bottles
o Dates of contest: Sept. 11-21
o School participating:
- Appalachian State University
- Western Carolina University
- UNC-Asheville
- AB-Technical Community College
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Caldwell Community College
- Haywood Community College
- Isothermal Community College
- Mayland Community College
- McDowell Technical Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Brevard College
- Montreat College
·
The
Dalles Oregon Region
o Throwaway item: Baling Twine
o Dates of contest: October 13-23
o Schools participating:
- Clark College
- Columbia Gorge
Community College
- Mt. Hood Community
College
-
Portland Community College
·
South
Carolina Region (Goosecreek/Charleston)
o Throwaway item: Glass Pharmaceutical
Bottles
o Dates of contest: October 21-31
o Schools participating:
- College of Charleston
- The Citadel
- Charleston Southern
University
-
Trident Technical College
·
Oklahoma
Region (Mid America)
o Throwaway item: Plastic Bags
o Dates of contest: October 30-November 9
o Schools participating:
- The University of
Tulsa
- Rogers State University
- Oklahoma State
University-Institute of Technology
·
Iowa
Region (Council Bluffs)
o Throwaway item: Plastic Bags
o Dates of contest: October 30-November 9
o Schools participating:
- Western Community
College
- Buena Vista
University-Council Bluffs
- Creighton University-Omaha
Goals & Outcomes for Juicy Ideas
· Instill a sense of social responsibility in both
students and community leaders.
· Create a venue for students to experience the value
of right-brain skills, e.g. imagination, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership
and the power of global communication for a common cause.
· Inspire potential leaders of tomorrow to “make
meaning” in the world.
· Establish a venue that would “stimulate and
celebrate” innovation and entrepreneurship.
-end-