Winning Student Ideas Earn Blackstone LaunchPad Contest Cash

BW’s Blackstone LaunchPad has announced the first round of student winners in the Year of the Idea Contest, with a “Made to Fade Tattoo” claiming first place in the for-profit category and a headline on cleveland.com. Of his concept for real tattoo ink that fades after a year, Kevin Howell ’16 said, “Parents can no longer say, ‘You know that never comes off,’ because it will!”


Students submitted a total of 51 ideas in three categories: For-Profit, Non-Profit and Baldwin Wallace University. The first place non-profit idea was a Professional Extracurricular Teachers program suggested by Julie Smith ‘15. In the BW category, Thurman Anderson ’16 came out on top with a BW Shuttle Service. Second place winning ideas came from Ivan Wyrsta ’14, Joshua Sattelmaier ’14, and Maureen Benoit ’17.

Judges considered the originality and problem-solving power of each idea in awarding the $200 first place prizes and $100 to runners-up. The goal of the contest is to spark campus creativity and increase awareness about BW's Blackstone LaunchPad services. Phase two contest entries are due by March 28. Full contest details and entry forms are available at https://tackk.com/YearoftheIdea

Blackstone LaunchPad is sponsored by the Blackstone Charitable Foundation and the Burton D. Morgan Foundation.