Congratulations to our 2013 SIC Awardees

Congratulations to our five awardees and all the 10 finalists who pitched their innovations to change the world:

• Isidore Niyongabo, a master’s degree candidate in the Kroc School of Peace Studies’ Peace and Justice Studies program, earned $15,000 to enhance his International Deaf Education Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL) program. 
• Roam, a business idea that junior mechanical engineer Connor Lind describes as the “Yelp for volunteering,” was awarded $8,500.
• Lace Up Stand Up (LUSU) received $4,000 with their idea born from an undergraduate leadership class project in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, is a nonprofit organization centered on teaching leadership and intervention skills to witnesses and bystanders of bullying situations.
• Homespun employs fabrics to visually display its impact. Peace and Justice Studies student Grace Michel and SOLES Nonprofit Leadership and Management student Andrew Rae earned $2,500.
• The $10,000 Verizon Green Award, designed to promote sustainability among SIC ideas, went to a familiar person. Teresa Smith, a SOLES Nonprofit Leadership and Management student, won the entire amount to support the Safe Parking Program.

A total of $40,000 in prize money was awarded to the winners to make their vision a reality at the SIC Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 3. The Awards Ceremony was curated by Cheryl Goodman, senior director of marketing and business development, Qualcomm Labs. The prize money included $10,000 for the Verizon “Green Award” plus a $2,500 Qualcomm Labs “Live Audience Choice Award” that went to Isidore Niyongabo and his Deaf for African Development program.

Judges for this year’s competition comprised a panel of entrepreneurs, corporate and nonprofit leaders including Jenny Craig, founder of Jenny Craig, Inc.; Kapil Sharma, senior general manager in North America of Tata Sons Ltd., and Peg Ross of PCI.

Finalists receive further support from the Center of Peace and Commerce’s partnership with crowdfunding site Indiegogo and San Diego’s EvoNexus, Social Venture Partners and Connect Springboard. Each of our 10 Social Innovation Challenge finalists are still pursuing their ideas and need your support! Visit our Center for Peace and Commerce Indiegogo Page to learn more and support USD social innovators.