In MECA Challenge, Students Solve Real-Life Problems With Innovative Thinking
Time was quickly running out on聽Friday afternoon. Students hastily worked to put together PowerPoint slide shows and organize their presentations. Along with experienced local entrepreneurs, students were doing something that they may聽not have yet done in their college careers 鈥斅爏olve聽a real-world problem.
射精视频 hosted its first-ever MECA Challenge聽on聽Oct. 7. MECA Challenge (Most Entrepreneurial City In America) is a one-day entrepreneurship and innovation competition, challenging groups of students to develop a solution to a real-world problem in a race against a three-hour time-limit.
Adam Arredondo and Jordan EuDaly, the director and community content manager, respectively, for the Center for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (CEED) and founders of the MECA Challenge, devote their time to helping community members develop a creative mindset and make Kansas City a better place.
鈥淭his event is about building confidence to solve real-world problems,鈥 Arredondo said. "Everyone must be able to solve problems鈥 that is entrepreneurial thinking.鈥
Risa Stein, Ph.D., Rockhurst professor of psychology, founded student group聽Innovate at the Rock to promote the incorporation of creative approaches to solving problems in education and was a volunteer for the MECA Challenge Friday.
鈥淚t comes down to the mindset inherent in people who innovate,鈥 Stein said of the role that brand of thinking plays in shaping effective leaders. 鈥淭hey are team players who value experiential learning where others might be concerned with failure.鈥
The skills acquired from similar startup competitions can translate into valuable skills in any number of career paths. Students participating in Friday鈥檚 challenge ranged in their disciplines,聽from business to humanities.
鈥淭he engaged learning experience appeals to students鈥 desire to solve meaningful problems,鈥 said Cheryl McConnell, Ph.D., dean of the Helzberg School of Management, which was one of the聽organizers of Friday鈥檚 challenge.
Theresa Gengler, a junior business student at Rockhurst, was excited to take on the challenge.
鈥淚 wanted to see how well I could apply what I鈥檝e learned in my most recent business classes to real-world situations,鈥 she said about why she attended the event.
Michael Brummett, a junior nonprofit student and president of Innovate at the Rock, thought highly of the experience.
鈥淩ockhurst hosting the event and aligning itself with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship made MECA all the more engaging,鈥 he said.
MECA Challenge is just one of the opportunities 射精视频 students have to learn about innovation. Innovate at the Rock, a student-run organization, hosts every spring and various similar events on campus. MECA Challenges occur frequently throughout the year in the Kansas City area. Local group also provides opportunities for community involvement.聽