Student Presentations for the 2015 Innovation Challenge
Channel: NC New Schools/ Breakthrough Learning
Date: 15/04/2015

http://ncnewschools.org

A team of freshmen from Johnston County Early College Academy won the $2,000 first prize in the 2015 Innovation Challenge on Monday for their proposal to increase access to healthy foods at reduced cost. The student team from City of Medicine Academy was awarded $1,000 for second prize.

The four Johnston County students presented their proposal to a panel of industry professionals on April 13 during a national STEM education conference held at the Sheraton Imperial in RTP. They competed against three other teams from their school along with teams from City of Medicine Academy (Durham), Edgecombe Early College, Wake STEM Early College and Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy (Davidson). Their proposal, titled “The Grotesque Grocer,” planned for a system to collect healthy fruits and vegetables unfit for sale in normal distribution channels because of the items’ appearance of the items and sell them at discounted prices or donate them to those in need.

The Innovation Challenge, developed by NC New Schools, HQ Raleigh and Cisco Systems, invited students in the NC New Schools network to propose creative, practical solutions to real problems related to food supply or healthy choices. Teams of four to six students used practical skills including research, teamwork and communication to develop their ideas for increasing healthy food availability or encouraging healthy behaviors within their community. Teachers and industry professionals advised the teams during the planning process. Christopher Gergen of HQ Raleigh and NC New Schools staff brainstormed with industry partners, entrepreneurs, students and teachers to craft the challenge theme and format. 

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