University of Rochester Libraries (URL) gifted seed funding to support 13 enterprising students and alumni who successfully pitched innovative projects last semester.
Through the Make It Happen Grant Program, the URL awarded grants from $500 to $1500 to undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni who sought support for projects ranging from social entrepreneurship to artistic pursuits.
“Make It Happen affords students, and now alumni, the opportunity to explore diverse ideas for positive change in different disciplines or fields with our support and the follow-on connections to continually ‘make it happen’,” said Yasmin Mattox, director of the Barbara J. Burger iZone, which presents and oversees Make It Happen.
Some 13 winners were selected from 28 applicants, an increase of 211 percent from the previous year attributed to word of mouth marketing and more targeted distribution of flyers around iZone, Wilson Commons, and other high traffic locations on campus.
The winners returned to iZone for “Pitch Night” and publicly delivered their two minute pitches for their fellow winners and other spectators to see.
“While our work is important in supporting these idea through seed stage ventures and projects, and their founders, we are excited to see what our awardees do next with the other integrative supports U of R and the greater Rochester community offers,” Mattox added.
The winners were:
- Sparsh Kumar
- Received funding to develop an organization application for students studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). “My goal is to create a user-friendly app or website that is tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. This platform will prioritize personalization, allowing for student-specific adaptations based on their individual schedules and limitations.”
- Received funding to develop an organization application for students studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). “My goal is to create a user-friendly app or website that is tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. This platform will prioritize personalization, allowing for student-specific adaptations based on their individual schedules and limitations.”
- Sammy Randle III
- Received funding for a mentorship program called Progressive Prodigies that targets children in grades 6-12 in Rochester and Tampa, Fl (his hometown). “My true goal is to help people along their life journey and help them see all the options that are available to them whether it’s college or not.”
- Received funding for a mentorship program called Progressive Prodigies that targets children in grades 6-12 in Rochester and Tampa, Fl (his hometown). “My true goal is to help people along their life journey and help them see all the options that are available to them whether it’s college or not.”
- Rayleigh Parker
- Received funding for a new air purification system that removes tough-to-filter chemical compounds (also known as Primary Organic Contaminants) or POCs). “They have a boiling point just a little above water, so if you have a system that can pull water out of the air that should be able to remove these POCs as well.”
- Received funding for a new air purification system that removes tough-to-filter chemical compounds (also known as Primary Organic Contaminants) or POCs). “They have a boiling point just a little above water, so if you have a system that can pull water out of the air that should be able to remove these POCs as well.”
- Samantha Steiner
- Received funding to develop a series of free student workshops to provide guidance on how to have research papers published. “These workshops will help us learn the craft and the business of writing and will also let us connect with each other to learn from the resources that we have.”
- Received funding to develop a series of free student workshops to provide guidance on how to have research papers published. “These workshops will help us learn the craft and the business of writing and will also let us connect with each other to learn from the resources that we have.”
- John Ballou
- Received funding to create Art for $1, a mobile vending machine that brings art to unexpected places. “The physical act of putting coins into the machine reinforces this commitment to supporting the art and the artist. An art collection begins with a single piece, and everyone should have opportunity to support the visual arts and grow relationships between artists and collectors.”
- Received funding to create Art for $1, a mobile vending machine that brings art to unexpected places. “The physical act of putting coins into the machine reinforces this commitment to supporting the art and the artist. An art collection begins with a single piece, and everyone should have opportunity to support the visual arts and grow relationships between artists and collectors.”
- Samia Afrin
- Received funding to support the launch of Southway, an online marketplace designed to connect global customers with high-quality South Asian rental clothing. “What sets Southway apart is our commitment to reducing fashion waste. After rentals, garments are upcycled into new materials, contributing to a circular economy that benefits both the environment and our community.”
- Received funding to support the launch of Southway, an online marketplace designed to connect global customers with high-quality South Asian rental clothing. “What sets Southway apart is our commitment to reducing fashion waste. After rentals, garments are upcycled into new materials, contributing to a circular economy that benefits both the environment and our community.”
- Adam Bowen
- Received funding to create a monetization platform for online content creators in China. “There is a huge gap in the Chinese creator economy. Although Chinese creators are paid with ad revenue, they currently have no option for creators to give viewers additional content, ranks, perks, or digital content in return for recurring income.”
- Received funding to create a monetization platform for online content creators in China. “There is a huge gap in the Chinese creator economy. Although Chinese creators are paid with ad revenue, they currently have no option for creators to give viewers additional content, ranks, perks, or digital content in return for recurring income.”
- Souleymane Diallo
- Received funding to develop Fikia (meaning “to reach” in Swahili), a virtual work experience and early-career platform for Africa-based university students. “With automated digital career centers, interactive virtual work projects, and personalized job matching, Fikia is on a mission to redefine how Africa's university students launch their careers.”
- Received funding to develop Fikia (meaning “to reach” in Swahili), a virtual work experience and early-career platform for Africa-based university students. “With automated digital career centers, interactive virtual work projects, and personalized job matching, Fikia is on a mission to redefine how Africa's university students launch their careers.”
- Kalil Sykes
- Received funding to develop a clothing line called FCOTEW that will use garments as a medium of storytelling for children with mental illnesses. “We were all children once and children feel really hard. So why not put that into a brand. FCOTEW is going to be a story-based clothing brand where the story is going to constantly evolve with these children dealing with mental illnesses.”
- Received funding to develop a clothing line called FCOTEW that will use garments as a medium of storytelling for children with mental illnesses. “We were all children once and children feel really hard. So why not put that into a brand. FCOTEW is going to be a story-based clothing brand where the story is going to constantly evolve with these children dealing with mental illnesses.”
- Maria Rojas Tawil and Shelinee Hernandez Espino
- Received funding for ElectroBod, a digital tool to inspires curiosity and fosters understanding across different fields
- Received funding for ElectroBod, a digital tool to inspires curiosity and fosters understanding across different fields
- Bohan Cui
- Received funding to build a website community for lovers of anime to post and share experiences. “The project is about 70 percent finished already so I really want to thank iZone for this great opportunity.”
- Received funding to build a website community for lovers of anime to post and share experiences. “The project is about 70 percent finished already so I really want to thank iZone for this great opportunity.”
- Drea Restitullo
- Received funding to start a group that will restore the Gilbert Gardens, behind Gilbert Residence Hall. “The garden is neglected and needs a big group effort to make it viable for crops and plants. The group will work with Eco Reps and local community garden leaders to fix the garden.”
- Received funding to start a group that will restore the Gilbert Gardens, behind Gilbert Residence Hall. “The garden is neglected and needs a big group effort to make it viable for crops and plants. The group will work with Eco Reps and local community garden leaders to fix the garden.”
- Rachida Sofiani
- Received funding to create handmade crochet beanies for premature babies and infants for low-income families as clothing that also provides comfort. These beanies are not only functional pieces of clothing to keep these vulnerable infants warm but also as symbols of care and support for their families. Premature babies often require specialized care and attention, and providing them with soft, warm, and handmade beanies can offer comfort and love during a challenging time. For low-income families, receiving these handcrafted items can reduce the financial burdens and ensure their babies stay cozy and protected. Additionally, the project extends its reach to creating crochet memorial gift sets for parents who have experienced the loss of a stillborn child. These sets include delicate and meaningful crochet items, such as small blankets, hats, and other keepsakes. These handcrafted memorials can offer comfort and acknowledgment to the parents' grief, providing them with something to remember their beloved child.
