Event highlights new product innovations by students of all ages

Contact: Deanne Puca

KALAMAZOO, Mich.— A Friday, Dec. 1, Innovation Day celebration at Western Michigan University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences will allow the public to review new product innovations by students from grades K-12 through graduate school.

The atrium of the college's engineering building, Floyd Hall, on the Parkview Campus, will be the site of the 2017 Innovation Day celebration from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Entrepreneurial students from across WMU, including students enrolled in Entrepreneurial Engineering II and Engineering Design courses, as well as those working through the Starting Gate business incubator and a number of K-12 students, will be presenting their prototypes or models for new products and businesses to the public. 

Attendees are given "Innovation Dollars" upon arriving, and they are encouraged to "invest" their dollars in the most innovative products and services to determine popular vote. Judges will assess projects for specific grad levels and pick winners.

Sponsors include Custer Inc., Humphrey Products, Newell, Denso, Acura Valuation, Society of Plastic Engineers and Steelcase Inc.

Now in its 10th year, the free event includes a keynote speech by Google engineer Kevin Khaw at 11:55 a.m. titled, "What I learned at Google: The Pillars of Innovation."

For more information about Innovation Day, visit wmich.edu/ieeem/innovationday, email ceas-innovation@wmich.edu, or call Lisah Crall at (269) 276-3351 or Carey Schoolmaster at (269) 276-3245.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.