Innovation Expo

Join us Friday, December 2, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

What is Innovation Expo? K-12 and WMU students will pitch products, models and prototypes for awards and prize money.

Who should participate? K-12 student teams and WMU student teams may pitch their products or services. Educators must register K-12 teams. Educators, students, families, community members and entrepreneurs are invited to attend and encourage the teams.

How are winners selected? A panel of community judges select the top three pitches from each age group. A People's Choice award is given to the team that receives the most innovation dollars." Guests and participants receive a package of dollars to vote for their favorite projects. 

Where should I park? Free parking is available in the East and West parking ramps and the surface lot near Floyd Hall. Follow the signs when you arrive. Or, locate lots P1, P2 and P3 on the campus map.

Registration

Note: Educators must register K-12 teams.

Register Your Team Today Questions? Email Tina Sivewright

What to expect

  • Pitching!
  • Listening to other students pitch and voting with Innovation Dollars.
  • Raffles! All students participants will automatically be entered to win prizes. Names are selected every 10 minutes.
  • Educator's Raffle! Gift card prizes for teachers.
  • Lunch provided to all students, teachers and chaperones.

Headline

  • Innovation Expo Encouraging entrepreneurs of the future and celebrating WMU's entrepreneurial community.

  • Guidelines for student projects
    The student(s) must have:
    • A product or service that is unique, innovative, and has a clear market need.
    • Proof of concept or working prototype to show.
    • The product can use existing technology or involve modification of existing technology for a creative new product or service.
    Additional guidance
    • The technology can be, but does not need to be, brand new technology or necessarily “high tech.”
    • A well-developed business plan is not required, but it is expected that the student(s) have an understanding about the unmet need and the opportunity.
    • A 24- by 36-inch poster board will be required on competition day and must convey information including, but not limited to, the following:
      • a description of product or service and its operation.
      • benefits of the product or service.
      • market for the product or service.
      • competitive advantage.
    • It is recommended that visuals be simple, clear, and effective with good use of tables, charts and/or pictures.

    Poster Guidelines

  • Judging criteria

    Criteria are rated using a scale of 1-4: 1 - Emerging, 2 - Developing, 3 - Proficient, 4 - Advanced

    Grades K through 4

    • Students have identified an age-appropriate, realistic problem.
    • Students offer an original solution, either an Invention or innovation, and provide evidence that it solves the problem.
    • Display is attractive and tells the story of the project.
    • Presentation: good eye contact, can explain the project and its solution, presentation is well-rehearsed. 

    Grades 5 and 6

    • Student has identified a realistic problem for her/his age and can explain why it is a problem for them/us. Student can talk about challenges faced.
    • Student offers an original solution, either an Invention or innovation, and provides evidence that it solves the problem. Student can answer questions with confidence regarding how they arrived at their solution. 
    • Display is attractive and tells the story of the project. Grammar and spelling are correct.  Some testing data should be present.
    • Presentation:  good eye contact, well spoken, well-rehearsed. Firm handshake if offered.

    Grades 7 and 8

    • Project represents a problem with some complexity. Student considers potential customers, how it may be marketed, how the solution will improve lives. 
    • Student offers an original solution and they demonstrate its testing.  They talk about challenges, obstacles and successes.
    • Display is attractive and tells the story of the project.  Data from testing is displayed, either raw data or tables/charts.  Grammar and spelling are correct.
    • Presentation:  good eye contact, well spoken, well-rehearsed.   Firm handshake if offered. If more than one person, all must participate equally.

    Grades 9 through 12

    • Project represents a problem with some complexity. Student considers potential customers, how it may be marketed, how the solution will improve lives. 
    • Student offers an original solution and demonstrates its testing.  Prototype is true to life.  It doesn’t have to work, but it should accurately portray what a working model would look like. Student will express understanding of the design process, how the prototype took shape, how the team (if more than one) worked together.  Credit is given to supporters.
    • Display is attractive and tells the story of the project. Data from testing is displayed. Charts or graphs include appropriately labeled axes. Student presenters can explain how the data drove the design process. Free of grammar and spelling errors.
    • Presentation:  good eye contact, well spoken, well-rehearsed. Firm handshake if offered. All presenters participate equally.
  • Prizes

    Judges will select the Top 3 pitches from each age category and award the following prizes:

    • Grades K-4: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals
    • Grades 5 and 6: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals
    • Grades 7 and 8: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals
    • Grades 9 through 12: Each team member will receive  medals plus $75 for 1st place; $50 for 2nd place; and $25 for 3rd place.
    • WMU students: each team member will receive medals plus $100 for 1st place; $75 for 2nd place; and $50 for 3rd place. 

    Innovation Dollars will be counted to award the Fan Favorite for each age group.

  • Educator's Guide

    What to expect?

    • Who can participate: All students grade K-12 from any school
    • Time commitment: Friday, December 2, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
    • Location: Floyd Hall, WMU Parkview campus
    • Registration: Teachers must register all K-12 teams online by November 18. Register now. You will need the following information to complete registration.
      • Student name (s)
      • Team name
      • Project name
      • T-shirt sizes for all team members—Youth (S-XL) and Adult (S-XXL). 

    Educators will receive an email confirmation for each team they register.

    The following items will be provided at each team's table:

    • Event t-shirts for all team members and participating teachers to wear to Innovation Expo.
    • Student name badges.
    • Innovation Dollars for to spend as they listen to other grade levels pitch.

    Water stations will be located throughout Innovation Expo.

    Tentative Schedule

    Doors open at 8 a.m. Setup time for all teams is scheduled at 9 a.m.

    Note: Teams must be at their tables during the designated Pitch time to be judged. During spend time, students, teachers and guests walk around and spend innovation dollars for the popular vote! 

    Visual Schedule

    • Grades 9 through 12—Pitch from 10 to 11 a.m.; spend at 9:30 a.m.
    • Grades 6 through 8—Pitch from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m.; spend at 10 a.m.
    • Grade 5—Pitch from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; spend at 10:30 a.m.
    • Grades K through 4—Pitch from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; spend at 10:30 a.m.

     

    Curriculum Connections Register a Team

  • Sponsorship opportunities

    As a sponsor, you are advancing area students to greatness in an entrepreneurship    experience, influencing the future workforce of the future and gaining brand awareness in our community. 

    Presenting Sponsor (SOLD)

    • Sponsor the WMU first place award winners, advancing to Southwest Michigan First MIX event where company representatives introduce the team and present scholarship (large check)
    • Sponsor name and link to company video on event website.
    • Company banner displayed (company provides banner).
    • Invitation for three (3) company representatives to attend lunch with event judges.
    • Verbal recognition during award ceremony.
    • Name recognition on website, event program.

    Strategic Partner $5,000

    • Provide grades K-12 team award in sponsor's name. Company representatives are invited to present the award in person at award ceremony.
    • Sponsor name and link to company video or website on event website.
    • Verbal recognition during award ceremony.
    • Name recognition on event website and program.

    Scholarship Partner $2,500

    • Scholarship awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place person or each person on team in categories.
    • All high school seniors have the opportunity to win one of three $2,000 scholarships to Western Michigan University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences for the fall 2022 semester.
    • Verbal recognition during award ceremony.
    • Company name or logo recognition on event website.
    • Company name in event program.

    Teacher and Participating Student $1,000

    • Poster at raffle table with company name and logo.
    • Sponsor name and link to video on event website.
    • Verbal recognition during award ceremony.
    • Name recognition on website, event program.

    Student Gifts: $500 Swag Bag

    • Sponsor's branded gift given to student participants.
    • Innovation EXPO logo and company logo printed on gift.
    • Sponsor name and link to company video on event website.
    • Verbal recognition during award ceremony.
    • Name recognition on event website and program.

    Friends of the EXPO: $(you decide the level of giving!)

    • Verbal recognition during award ceremony
    • Name recognition on event website and program

Register your team

An educator must register a K-12 team. You will need the following information to complete the registration process: school name, educator's name, cell phone number, email address, grade level, student names, project title, T-shirt size for each team member.

Register today

Need more information?

Feel free to contact us with all your questions!

Tina Sivewright, Innovation Expo Coordinator
(269) 276-3802 
Email Tina Sivewright

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