HAMMOND — Around 100 students from five Lake County high schools took part in a workshop to help them network with their peers and business leaders across the Region, as well as refine their business ideas.
Students from Lowell, Hammond Central, Hobart, Merrillville and Munster high schools took part in the first ever Northwest Indiana Student Innovation Workshop Friday. The event was hosted by the STARTedUp Foundation and the Society of Innovators at Purdue University Northwest.
The day began with the high schoolers taking part in a challenge. The task: come up with ways to help Northwest Indiana communities, especially in Lake County, better connect with the Indiana Dunes National Park. In addition, they had to come up with solutions to one of the park’s biggest issues — long lines of traffic and parking.
For 45 minutes, the groups of eight to 10 students collaborated to come up with solutions. Each group had students from all the participating high schools.
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Throughout that time, around 25 mentors walked around to each group to listen to students’ thoughts, engage with them and occasionally steer their ideas in another direction.
A mentor assisting a group of students figuring out ways Indiana Dunes can increase attendance, while also addressing a major issue of parking.
Following the brainstorming session, each group came forward to present their solutions. Ideas ranged from building parking garages, creating an app to reserve parking spots, running shuttles run from neighboring towns to the park and developing seasonal programming to attract visitors year-round.
Afterwards, the students had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to the mentors, and receive feedback during a working lunch.
According to Kevin Schamel, the director of programming for STARTedUp Foundation, the purpose of the mentors’ feedback was to help the students refine their business ideas and hopefully submit it for the foundation’s Innovate WithIN competition next year.
Innovate WithIN is one of the largest high school business pitch competitions, Schamel said. It is open to Indiana students, with around 3,000 expected to compete in 2024.
Participants can be eligible for scholarships, with finalists at the regional and state level receiving thousands of dollars to continue building their business idea.
A group of students pitching their solutions to help the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Schamel said the workshop was also a way for students to network with their peers from other schools, and potentially find those who are interested in similar business ventures.
Lorenz Slack, a student from Munster High School, said he has a product pitch relating to music. At the workshop, he was able to meet other musically inclined people that helped him further develop his business idea.
“I get to put myself out there and express my product,” Slack said.
PHOTOS: Renovations continue on the historic Bank Calumet tower in Hammond
An apartment is nearing completion at the Bank Calumet tower now being renovated.
A sign advertises The Banc, a renovated Bank Calumet tower in downtown Hammond.
Renovated of the Bank Calumet tower continues in downtown Hammond. The main banking area of the former bank will be event space.
Renovated of the Bank Calumet tower continues in downtown Hammond. The main banking area of the former bank will be event space.
Renovated of the Bank Calumet tower continues in downtown Hammond. The main banking area of the former bank will be event space.
Renovation of the Bank Calumet tower continues in downtown Hammond. The main banking area of the former bank will be event space.
Renovated of the Bank Calumet tower continues in downtown Hammond. The main banking area of the former bank will be event space.
A two-bedroom apartment is framed and ready for finishing at the Bank Calumet tower.
Renovated of the Bank Calumet tower continues in downtown Hammond. The main banking area of the former bank will be event space.
The clock in main banking area of the Bank Calumet tower no longer works but it still may be retained as part of the decor.
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