A University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) team is heading to Washington, D.C., to compete in a National Science Foundation student competition.
According to a release from UACCB, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) partnered with the Foundation to select the college’s student team to compete with 11 other finalist teams as they each advanced to the final round of the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC), taking place June 2024 in Washington D.C.
Now in its eighth year, the competition “…seeks to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking among community college students by challenging them to develop STEM-based solutions to real-world problems. It also enables students to discover and demonstrate their capacity to use STEM to make a difference in the world and translate that knowledge into action,” the release said.
“UACCB students can always be counted on to step up and take on new challenges,” said Jeanette Youngblood, UACCB’s Dean of Career Education. When I saw the team’s final project, I was impressed by both their use of STEM-based knowledge to create this design and their recognition of the importance of removing barriers and enhancing accessibility within the community. This team and their project are top-notch, and I am very proud to say that they represent UACCB.”
Teams consist of two to four students and a faculty team mentor. Finalists attend an Innovation Boot Camp in June and interact with entrepreneurs and experts in business planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication, and marketplace dynamics. The Boot Camp culminates in a Student Innovation Poster Session on Capital Hill with STEM leaders and congressional stakeholders and a pitch presentation to determine the first, second, and third-place winning teams.
“I was super impressed by the work these students did on this project,” said Andrew Muse, Math faculty and team mentor. “It was a meaningful project that was executed very professionally. I look forward to seeing how the perform against their peers in D.C.”
The UACCB team comprised students from Andrew Muse’s Calculus II class: Dustin “Rico” Durham, Maria Cervantes, Shanna Huffine, and Rex Fletcher.
The team’s project was described as follows: “IntelliCline is a smart ramp solution that can adjust slope, height, and temperature to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. By eliminating common barriers, IntelliCline improves quality of life and creates more inclusive communities.”
“Congratulations to the 2024 CCIC finalists,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “Once again, I am inspired by the incredible level of talent and creativity our community college students showcase through the CCIC. Along with our partners at the National Science Foundation, we know this program is a foundation for future scientists, entrepreneurs, and engineers and are very proud to shine the spotlight on these talented future leaders.”
Image provided by UACCB
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