Students compete in Hub City Innovation Cup
JACKSON, Tenn.—A competition took place that brought out ideas and creativity.
Day two of the Hub City Innovation Cup, sponsored by the Jackson Energy Authority, took place at the JEA Training center.
This was a two-day event that allowed college students to create ideas to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through technology.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Freed-Hardeman University, Union University and Lane College were the four schools that were represented today.
We spoke to Colene Trent, the Associate Professor of Economics at Union University, who stated that she just wanted students to be encouraged.
“My role in their life is relatively short lived. I get some of them for four years but some for two or just even one class. And so I want them to have a major impact on society and on the world, so I want to go ahead and gear them to think of, ‘hey, I can actually have an impact on problems’,” Trent said.
Trent also stated that at Union, they like to give their students the opportunity to be creative.
“Here at the McAfee School of Business at Union, we understand the importance of entrepreneurship and also that business can give back to the community. So, we wanted to give our students the chance to think of unique ideas,” Trent said.
Trent went on to explain why it’s important that those with disabilities should feel like they belong in the technological world.
“I’ve learned that about one third of people in Tennessee are faced with disabilities, so it could be seen disabilities or unseen disabilities. But that’s a huge portion of our population that doesn’t have great access sometimes to our area amenities,” Trent said.
The students were required to wear business attire today.
They were divided into groups and had five minutes to present their idea.
Six judges were present, not only to rate how they did, but also, to ask questions if they had any.
The top teams from each group will compete in the finals.
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