2020 Winners
Students from across Western Michigan University's campus, as well as regional high schools, participated in the eighth annual K.C. O鈥橲haughnessy Competition and Showcase. One person from each company is allowed to present the pitch for their team's innovative idea.
First Place and People's Choice
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$2,000 award and additional $300 award: pitched by industrial and entrepreneurial engineering students Brookyln Smith, Bridgitt Cornish, Trevor Dendel and Emily Mouat.
No Mess Power Strip is a company that offers a tangle-free alternative to traditional power strips by including a spring coiled retraction system in the design. The product eliminates the clutter of excess cords by featuring five containment chambers鈥攖hree for standard U.S. electrical sockets and two for USB connectors.
Second Place
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$1,400 award: pitched by computer information systems major Josh Wenke.
Alpha Portal is an application designed to help student organizations across the country manage membership, send mass text messages, collect payments, track events and more.
Third Place
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$800 award: pitched by industrial and entrepreneurial engineering students Jacob Cable, Matthew Baker and Caleb Norder.
Easywax is a company that takes the cost and hassle out of traditional methods for waxing skis and snowboards. The simple design allows wax to transfer from parchment paper with just a household iron and is a fraction of the price of professional equipment waxing.
Fourth place
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$500 award: pitched by Master of Science in evaluation, measurement and research student Nathan Browning.
Kiaer Research is a firm that conducts applied social research studies to provide new knowledge, tailored solutions, and evaluation for businesses, nonprofits and public entities.