On Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25, AdVenture Capital further extended its programming in Michigan with the debut and support of a new corporate partner, WorkForce Software. The two-day event entitled AdVenture Capital – WorkForce Dream Builder Experience was hosted at WorkForce’s Global Headquarters in Livonia, Michigan.
Eight incredible students were selected from throughout the Detroit Metropolitan region with tremendous assistance and support from United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM). The students arrived at WorkForce with BIG ideas, enthusiasm and determination to make their various projects become a reality. Business leaders and executives from WorkForce, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, and Domino’s provided mentoring and inspirational advice for the students to remain focused as they develop their projects. The students also received a special video welcome and words of encouragement from former NFL player and television personality Michael Strahan! WorkForce Software even provided a wellness session with yoga and exercise during one of the program breaks.
Guest speakers who appeared at the event, shared their professional experience and provided guidance to the eight AdVenture Capital students included:
- Mike Morini, Chief Executive Officer – WorkForce Software
- Joe Jordan, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer – Domino’s
- Jim Reid, Chairman – United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM)
- Alexis Glick, Chief Executive Officer – GENYOUth
- Sarah Baird, Vice President of Marketing and Communications – Dairy Management Inc
- Denise Broady, Chief Marketing Officer – WorkForce Software
- Peter Jackson, Vice President of Cloud Infrastructure – WorkForce Software
- Ken Olson, Vice President of Product Development – WorkForce Software
- David Vonk, Customer Success Executive – WorkForce Software
- Leslie Tarnacki, Vice President of HR/GM – WorkForce Software Australia
- Bob Feller, Chief Financial Officer – WorkForce Software
Winning student projects will continue to be developed and implemented during the first semester of the upcoming school year.
Student Projects include:
Olivianah, sophomore at Skyline High School “Listen When I Say”
- An online platform for students to anonymously seek out answers to health questions.
Hunter, sophomore at Bedford High School “Play It Forward”
- Find new ways for youth with disabilities to have access to physical fitness and participate in healthy activities.
Sheridan, senior at International Academy “Phoenix Phitness”
- Increase access to physical activity at her school by creating a Fitness Fun Day.
- Purchase new athletic equipment and bring in local coaches and nutritionists to talk to students about the importance of health and wellness.
Michelle, freshman at International Academy “Project Grit”
- Establish a formal partnership with a local university to give doctors in training the opportunity to talk with high school students about important health issues.
Arav, sophomore at International Academy “Lead-AWAY”
- Raise awareness of and design a prototype to works towards resolving issues of contamination in corroding water pipes.
Julia, junior at International Academy “Easy and Healthy Cooking for College”
- Start a quarterly class to teach students how to make healthy and affordable meals in a college dorm setting.
Saanya, sophomore at International Academy “Cooking to Transform”
- Start a health cooking competition that raises awareness about healthy eating while simultaneously raising funds to start a healthy snack bar in the school common area.
Hannah, freshman at Mercy High School “Marsh-MELLOW OUT”
- Use a website to provide resources to students to help handle stressful situations in a healthy way
These eight student projects will be presented as part of the Tuesday, December 6th GENYOUth Michigan Town Hall at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
If you want to check out more regarding the event, look up #WFSDreamBuilders16 on Facebook and Twitter! Please also read Kyla Smith’s report from the event that was just published in The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2016/05/26/detroit-area-students-pitch-inventions/84996928/