OSU Creativity Festival Contest and Booth Showcase winners announced
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Institute for Creativity and Innovation is proud to announce the winners of the 3rd annual creativity contest recently held on April 12, on lawn of the Edmon Low Library on the campus of Oklahoma State University.
Students, faculty, and staff were invited to answer the question: “What world record would you break to make the greatest social impact?” The festival’s theme was “OSU as Creative Local and Global Problem Solver.” Students involved with the festival built the Guinness Record breaking World’s Largest Twister board as a way to creatively engage the campus, as well as, raise money for disaster relief.
“We were really pleased with the level of campus engagement with the question,” said Dr. Melanie C. Page, ICI Director. “OSU has a lot of really bright, talented people who want to make a difference in their communities”.
Sandeep Katta, a graduate student from Computer Science won first place and $700 for his entry making OSU a national leader and record holder in saving energy to save the environment; Dakota Koenig, an undergraduate business administration student at OSU-Tulsa, won second place and $500 for his entry regarding having the most cars using alternate fuels; Jennifer “JJ” Smith, a staff member at OSU-Tulsa, won third place and $300 for her entry for breaking the record for largest number of blood donor’s (to be done at the bombing memorial); and honorable mention went to Emily Whitson, an undergraduate student, who is part of Eben group for most pounds of school supplies donated in a 24 hour period, she also won $150.
During the Creativity Festival there was a booth showcase that included a people’s choice contest for best booth in an effort to raise money for Feed the Children.
With nearly 50 booths, there was stiff competition for votes! The booth winners are as follows: first place and $500 - EbenGroup, a student organization, proposing to use social entrepreneurship to sell backpacks and for every backpack sold they will give one away full of school supplies to a child in need. They will also would use part of the profits to build schools in developing countries; second place and $300 – Dr. Julie Croff, faculty member in SAHEP, for her booth on her research that uses technology (iPads & breathalyzers) to study drinking at bars and parties; third place and $200 - E Club which is a student organization focused on helping students use entrepreneurship to make a difference in their own lives and in their communities.
“The creativity of the OSU community in coming up with ways to solve problems and enhance lives is truly amazing and we are happy to provide a showcase for all the hard work people do every day,” said Dr. Melanie C. Page.