UACCB Student Team Among 12 Advancing to National Community College Innovation Challenge Finals

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), in partnership with the National Science Foundation, announced the selection of 12 finalist teams to advance to the final round of the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC), set to take place in June 2024 in Washington D.C. The student team from University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) was selected to compete.

Now in its eighth year, the competition seeks to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking among community college students by challenging them to develop STEM-based solutions to real-world problems. It also enables students to discover and demonstrate their capacity to use STEM to make a difference in the world and translate that knowledge into action.

Jeanette Youngblood, Dean of Career Education said, “UACCB students can always be counted on to step up and take on new challenges. When I saw the team’s final project, I was impressed by both their use of STEM-based knowledge to create this design and their recognition of the importance of removing barriers and enhancing accessibility within the community. This team and their project are top notch, and I am very proud to say that they represent UACCB.”

Teams consist of two to four students and a faculty team mentor. Finalists attend an Innovation Boot Camp in June and interact with entrepreneurs and experts in business planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication, and marketplace dynamics. The Boot Camp culminates in a Student Innovation Poster Session on Capital Hill with STEM leaders and congressional stakeholders and a pitch presentation to determine the first, second, and third-place winning teams.

Andrew Muse, Math faculty and team mentor, said, “I was super impressed by the work these students did on this project. It was a meaningful project that was executed very professionally. I look forward to seeing how the perform against their peers in D.C.”

The UACCB team was comprised of students from Andrew Muse’s Calculus II class: Dustin “Rico” Durham, Maria Cervantes, Shanna Huffine, and Rex Fletcher. The team’s project was described as follows: “IntelliCline is a smart ramp solution that can adjust slope, height, and temperature to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. By eliminating common barriers, IntelliCline improves quality of life and creates more inclusive communities.”

“Congratulations to the 2024 CCIC finalists,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “Once again, I am inspired by the incredible level of talent and creativity our community college students showcase through the CCIC. Along with our partners at the National Science Foundation, we know this program is a foundation for future scientists, entrepreneurs, and engineers and are very proud to shine the spotlight on these talented future leaders.”

To receive updates about the 2024 Innovation Boot Camp and the winners, follow @Comm_College or visit www.aaccinnovationchallenge.com.