ORAU’s Garrison presents grand prize at VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge

Students from around the globe gathered in Roanoke, Va., on Aug. 29, 2010, to compete for a $25,000 grand prize at the first annual VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge. ORAU sponsored the event, and ORAU University Partnerships Vice President Dr. Arlene Garrison presented the grand prize and trophy to the winning team. VT KnowledgeWorks is a business acceleration center associated with Virginia Tech.

As an event sponsor, ORAU contributed to help fund the week-long conference, which celebrated university students’ creativity and recognized their contributions to the global economy.

The contest winners highlight the variety of innovations created on college campuses. Top honors went to a wood-pellet fueled patio heater that reduces fuel costs, increases mobility and reduces the environmental impact of patio heaters used for outdoor entertaining. Runner-up prizes went to a non-invasive device that enables early detection of breast cancer and a convenient, secure method for arranging and paying for taxi rides using a mobile telephone.

VT KnowledgeWorks is a regional business acceleration center serving technology-based enterprises at all stages of the corporate lifecycle with conference and incubation facilities located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.