The creative spirit is unfettered by boundaries. In fact, an advanced degree and experience aren’t prerequisites for coming up with an innovative product or idea.
And that’s what makes MUSC’s annual Student Pitch Competition nothing short of a must-see event. Held every spring as part of MUSC’s participation in South Carolina Innovation Awareness Month, the competition is open to students from all six colleges to present their innovative ideas to faculty in a “Shark Tank” format. Each student has 10 minutes to convince the panel of judges that theirs is a winning proposal.
In addition to being a showcase for students’ innovation and preparation for statewide competition, the competition carries other benefits, including a $2,500 stipend.
“Not only are students getting the experience of pitching ideas, but they’re also getting the opportunity to expand their breadth and experience and collaborate with faculty members to advance their ideas,” said Reece Funderburk, communication and marketing manager for MUSC’s Office of Innovation. “It’s a way to tie in education with leadership and innovation.”
Student ideas have captured the interest of companies, and some have even had their ideas developed by companies, said Erick Lemon, director of Digital Strategies and Innovation and assistant professor.
This year’s winner, Katelyn Marsh, a fourth-year pharmacy student who designed a device to hold an insulin pen, has registered her device with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is working with MUSC’s Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization to secure investment funding.
Students need only to have a faculty sponsor and an innovative idea that they have developed into a product, a plan or a proposal, said Lemon, who organized this year’s event and teaches 3D printing classes and oversees the MUSC Dream Studio. Located in MUSC’s library, the studio is a hub where students can discuss ideas and learn how to transform their dreams into reality using available technologies, such as laser cutting, 3D printers and virtual reality technology.
Students’ ideas don’t have to be technical, Lemon said. “Any idea that a student has can be submitted as long as its goal is to improve healthcare. Service programs and transportation are examples of nontechnical entries.”
Lemon said he encourages students to participate, whether they take his courses and participate in the Dream Studio or want to work with an individual faculty member. Typically, students sign up in the fall and work on their project with a faculty mentor throughout the academic year.
In addition to MUSC’s own competition, the Office of Innovation hopes this competition can be good practice for the state’s larger annual student pitch competition in the fall. Run by South Carolina’s Department of Commerce, the annual competition is open to any South Carolina student, graduate or undergraduate. The prize pool this year for the competition is $15,000.
Funderburk said he hopes more MUSC students will also take their ideas to the statewide competition this year.
“The Student Pitch Competition is a great event that showcases the imagination and ingenuity of students overall, and I hope our students will take this annual opportunity to the next level for more support at a larger scale this fall.”
Margaret Lamb
Margaret Lamb has extensive experience in higher education, health, medical and wellness communications as a writer, editor, spokesperson and manager. A graduate of the University of South Carolina (USC) with a degree in political science, she has worked for USC and Clemson University as well as Hill & Knowlton Public Relations and The Atlanta Constitution.
