UMBC’s Idea Competition offers students from all fields an opportunity to present business ideas to a panel of expert judges and receive immediate feedback on moving from vision to reality.

The university’s Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship hosts this competition each fall. This year’s event featured ten project finalists. Student teams had just three minutes each to sell the judges and the crowd on their innovative product and business ideas.

Vivian Armor, director of the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, notes that the popular event now receives submissions from nearly every major across campus. Armor, herself an alumna of UMBC (‘73, American studies), shares, “I love seeing how creative our students are.”

While the Idea Competition can be intense, the organizers also focus on providing support for the emerging student entrepreneurs who participate. Local entrepreneurs on the judging panel don’t just evaluate the finalists’ ideas; they also provide advice on next steps.

The ideas presented this year ranged from technology to make schools safer from physical threats to wearable technologies that can help people in their daily activities. One team presented materials that can help clean up contaminant spills in the environment, while another shared homes built from 3D-printed materials.

Top prize: ReActive

Jood Ali ‘20, mechanical engineering, submitted an idea called ReActive, along with her project partner Nila Lahijan ‘19, biological sciences. ReActive combines electronic muscle stimulator technology with compression clothing. Ali shared how her personal experience with physical therapy inspired her to look closer at these two technologies, which aided her recovery from an injury. She wondered if they could be made more portable and wearable.

Ali described how electronic muscle stimulators deliver electrical current to the body through electrodes that are placed on the skin. Both these devices and compression clothing are commercially available, but, Ali noted, the technology has not been combined in this innovative way to help people receive the benefits of their physical therapy while on the go.

ReActive won both the first place prize ($750) and a special award for best presentation ($250). “I was confident of my presentation, but by no means was I expecting to win first place,” said Ali. “Sometimes, you have to have a little faith in yourself, and when that doesn’t work you just have to be okay with letting yourself be scared for a little while…because that’s the only way you’ll grow.”

Supporting healthy online communities

Michael Ogunsanya ‘21, mechanical engineering, and Eric Solender ‘21, information systems, presented MindStand Technologies, which works to foster healthy online communities by identifying and preventing harassment. Ogunsanya, Solender, and their team are using artificial intelligence informed by clinical psychology to determine the intent and content of messages, and flag concerning material. Their project earned the second place prize ($500) in the competition.

The students shared that a key distinction between MindStand and its competitors is the ability to process full-length conversations, rather than relying on keyword searches to flag cyberbullying and harassment. They explained that the technology they are developing can also get professionals and administrators involved, through interactive dashboards and email notifications, to address bullying behaviors. Solender and Ogunsanya are working with UMBC’s Division of Information Technology to explore implementing the MindStand Technology on the myUMBC platform.

“Participating in the Idea Competition gave me the confidence and drive to apply the lessons I’ve learned in entrepreneurship classes,” said Ogunsanya. “It’s amazing seeing so many innovators gather together to support one another and help turn our dreams into careers. Seeing faces in the crowd light up as I explain the months of work I’ve put into my venture created a drive in me to finish what I’ve started and truly disrupt the tech industry.”

Affordable housing through new technology 

Jen Spiker ‘21, information systems, presented her business idea, 3D Printed Home, which won the third place prize ($250) in the competition. Inspired by how the military is using 3D printing technologies to construct barracks, she developed a proposal for printing homes in as little as 24 hours and for the price of a car. Spiker hopes her work can help reduce homelessness and expand affordable housing options in the United States.

The business pitches were judged by Sean Booker ‘04, computer engineering, president and CEO of Booker DiMaio; Eli Center ‘01, political science, president and CEO of 4S-Solutions, LLC; and Paula Kipperman, president of United World Technologies, LLC, located in bwtech.

To other student entrepreneurs considering this type of competition, “I would say go for it,” Solender shares. “You’ll get great feedback on presenting, find out if your idea is viable, and get to see all of the other cool things students at UMBC are doing.”

Banner image: Jood Ali (left), Jennifer Spiker, Eric Solender, and Michael Ogunsanya  after the Idea Competition. All photos by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

This story is updated as of Sunday. Check retriever.umbc.edu for an update on the Coppin State game. 

The UMBC men’s basketball season looked promising early on despite a loss to Marquette on opening night. The Retrievers went on a four-game winning streak after that loss. It looked like they had found their rhythm and that things were going great for the team. But since then, they have struggled to find consistency, and as a result, they find themselves at 4-4 after a three-game losing streak.

The Retrievers fell to South Dakota in the last game of the Bimini Jam by a score of 58-52. Playing in their third game in four days, the team was missing a lot of shots off the front of the rim. They looked visibly tired, but the defense did not budge. However, with a 32.7 shooting percentage, the team was unable to get the points necessary to win the game.

Against American University, junior-forward Max Curran had an impressive game, scoring 20 points and 6 rebounds. Curran even had the game tying dunk with less than 30 seconds left in the half, before an American University player took a long three-point shot from the middle of the court and gave American University the lead with under 10 seconds left. After intentionally fouling, the Retrievers would fall to the Eagles 73-69.

UMBC started their game against Northern Kentucky on a 9-0 run, looking as if they may have shaken their offensive woes. The team looked to be clicking on all cylinders, but things quickly fell apart. The team shot only 34 percent from the field, and the Norse simply out-shot the Retrievers that evening. Kentucky would eventually win 78-60.

Much of UMBC’s problem thus far has been inconsistency on offense. The Retrievers rank 303rd in the country with a 40.6 field goal percentage. Though UMBC is a mid-major and would not be expected to have one of the highest percentages in the country, they rank last in the America East Conference in shooting percentage.

After the graduation of guards Jairus Lyles, KJ Maura and Jourdan Grant, the Retrievers have yet to find the same production from those positions as they did a year ago. Junior-guards KJ Jackson and Ricky Council II have yet to find their rhythm on offense, shooting 28.8 and 31.7 percent from the field respectively. The pair are both adjusting to the new offense with Jackson transferring in from junior college and Council transferring from Providence. Freshman-guard Jose Placer has also struggled on the season shooting 34.4 percent from the field. Over the three-game stretch, the trio of guards have shot only 24 percent from the field combined (13-53).

UMBC’s guards are very early in their careers. Jackson scored 25.8 points per game in junior college, Jose Placer averaged 11.5 points per game for team Puerto Rico over the summer and Council II had more than 28 points per game in prep school. All three players possess natural scoring ability and have demonstrated their ability to score at high levels, despite their current struggles. The three are good players and will likely be key offensive pieces once they adjust to playing at the Division I level.

Despite the Retrievers scoring trouble, the team’s defensive statistics have been outstanding thus far this season. The team currently ranks 18th in the nation, forcing 18.0 turnovers per game.

The Retrievers take on Coppin State on Dec. 3 (check retriever.umbc.edu for updates) before heading to Philadelphia on Saturday.

According to the National Public Radio website, a study showed that “36 percent of college students say they are food insecure.” Even at UMBC, some students face hunger and the reality that they may not have enough resources to pay for their meals or other necessities. Fortunately, there is an organization on campus dedicated to reaching out and helping students facing food insecurity. Retriever Essentials is run by a group of people who are dedicated to making sure students do not face these challenges alone.

Julie Rosenthal, a staff member of Retriever Essentials, does some of the marketing and community outreach along with processing donations that go into the organization’s foundation account. She says that Retriever Essentials originated two years prior when Dr. Nancy Young and Dr. Leslie Morgan brought together different team members who were united by a common goal: to have a food pantry on campus for food-insecure students.

One such individual is Katrina Grusell, who is the chaplain to the Lutheran Episcopal campus ministry student group. Grusell currently serves on the advisory board for Retriever Essentials. Another is Lauren Kataja, whose goal is “to build more support and getting more student and campus involvement.” She also mentions that Retriever Essentials works as a referral service, so if students have further problems, the group will work to connect the student with the proper officials.

Rosenthal notes that the organization has “six locations around campus where students can pick up bags of nutritionally balanced nonperishable food.” According to their website, retrieveressentials.umbc.edu, these pick-up stations are located at: the Counseling Center, Honors College, the Mosaic Center, the Women’s Center, Off-Campus Student Services and Residential Life. Kataja says this semester, “We have given out 75 bags of nonperishable food to students.”

Along with food bags, the organization also tries to provide other means for students to combat various challenges; for example, they also distribute free outerwear to students who cannot afford such items. Rosenthal says that Retriever Essentials’ Coat Closet “has free coats that people have donated for students who don’t have warm clothing, along with hats, gloves, and scarves.” So far, 45 coats have been handed out this semester.

Coupons for products ranging from food to hygiene are available at the desk in the front entrance of Off-Campus Student Services. There is also the save-a-swipe program in which students can sign up at the beginning of the semester through the Retriever Essentials website to donate up to ten meals to those who face hunger.

For students who can help those who are disadvantaged on campus, the organization encourages donating nonperishable food items at the following collection boxes: the one in the administrative building across from the elevators, the one in front of the Retriever Learning Center in the library, and a collection box that will eventually be available on Mainstreet in the Commons.

Kataja also mentions some upcoming initiatives they are currently developing, including a survey where numerical data will be gathered to gain feedback and support about how to better meet the needs of students with food insufficiency. The team is also trying to collaborate with student organizations in order to better help students in need.

“What many people don’t understand is how big of a problem food insecurity is for college campuses across the nation, and at UMBC,” Grusell says. While food insecurity is a big issue some students on campus face, the UMBC community can work together to make sure that Retrievers facing this challenge are able to get the support that they need to make their college experience as successful as possible.

COLA Exceptions 

Departments must provide information to HR by 12/14 on graduate assistants who should not receive the COLA in January and April of 2019. Please see attachment with additional details and instructions. 

If you have any questions please contact the Graduate School or Human Resources. 

Sincerely,

Isabel

Isabel N. Garrido

Assistant Dean for Administration, Policy and Compliance                                                         

The UMBC women’s basketball team has had a difficult time over its last three games. After starting off their season with a team record six game winning streak, the Retrievers have now lost their third straight game after being blown out by University of Maryland, College Park 92-61, the rank seven team.

The Retrievers’ losing streak began after a tough loss at home against Towson where they gave up 25 points in the fourth quarter, allowing the Tigers to cruise to a late victory in what was originally a close game. The Retrievers had a chance to make a comeback after they kept the Tigers within reach at 46-45 through three quarters, but the defensive breakdown in the fourth gave the Retrievers their first loss of the season 71-62.

Three players finished in double figures, including freshman guard O’leysha Braxton, who finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. While the team had a better shooting percentage at 40.4 percent they could not get any help in securing the ball being out-rebounded 44-30 with 21 of those rebounds coming from the offensive end.

In their next game against American University, UMBC struggled mightily in the first quarter, giving up 30 points while only scoring 8 of their own. Those 30 points were the most points the Retrievers have given up in a quarter this season. UMBC was plagued with turnovers, turning over the ball 17 times in this game netting American University 19 points off turnovers. The defense would find its path as UMBC gave up a total of 34 points through the next three quarters but maintained their offensive struggles. Sophomore forward Janee’a Summers was the only player to score in double figures with 15 points. The Retrievers would fall to the Eagles 64-42.

In their game against the Terrapins, junior-guard Dominika Skrocka had the best game of her career, scoring 18 points on 6-7 shooting from the three-point line. Once again UMBC had issues controlling the ball, giving up 19 turnovers that resulted in 26 points for Maryland. The Terrapins made it hard for UMBC to get the ball up-court using full-court presses and traps in an effort to cause turnovers.

The Terrapins size added another problem for the Retrievers, who had a hard time dealing with larger players and it showed, with UMBC giving up 50 points in the paint and losing the rebounding battle 44-28. By halftime, the score was sitting at 58-30 before UMBC went on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 60-40. But despite a gritty effort, the Retrievers would eventually fall 92-61.

In all three losses, UMBC has struggled, shooting 36 percent from the field. They have also scored 13 fewer points in these three losses, averaging 55 points as opposed to the 68 points they accumulated during their win streak. They are statistically worse in field goal percentage, rebounding, assists and steals. UMBC will try to break their losing streak as they take on Mount St. Mary’s at the UMBC Event Center.

Dr. Amy Bhatt, associate professor of gender and women’s studies, recently authored the book “High Tech Housewives: Indian IT Workers, Gendered Labor, and Transmigration.” The book discusses the social, economic and political struggles that Indian migrants in the information technology field experience when transitioning to the United States. Additionally, “High Tech Housewives” analyzes the impacts of these barriers placed on IT migrants pertaining to women.

Immigration is a sensitive topic that has been brought to light in recent years within the U.S. “People tend to think about H-1B visa issues as problems that only affect men, failing to consider the often highly skilled spouses who come with them to the U.S.,” says Bhatt. According to the U.S. H-4 Visa program, female spouses of Indian IT workers can travel with them but are not given the rights to work.

Although these women may have the education and skill to work white collar jobs such as IT, they are not given the opportunity to do so due to immigration policies. Thus, the term “High-Tech Housewives” emerged. Bhatt delves deeper into how this aspect affects women’s self-identity and encounters within society.

In addition to her role as a professor of gender and women’s studies, Bhatt also serves as affiliate associate professor in the language, literacy and culture program and the Asian studies program. Through these roles, she has done extensive research on immigration policy, migration as it affects women and families and social reproduction.

Bhatt places much emphasis on immigration activism and South Asian community reform. “U.S. consumers depend on the global flow of goods and services in the tech, healthcare and higher education sectors,” she explains. “In a global high-tech economy, it is important to acknowledge the value that immigrants bring to our lives and how they are being threatened by immigration policy.” On Wednesday, Dec. 5, UMBC hosted a forum on Bhatt’s book in the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery. The forum directly addressed topics that were discussed in “High-Tech Housewives” and included a book signing.

Bhatt has also published articles for several other news outlets worldwide. Most recently, she was featured in an article on KQED News that shared the story of Leena Bhai, a woman from India who is highly skilled and could be restricted from working in the near future. In addition, her article titled “Global Effects of High Skilled Immigration” was published in “GlobalAsia,” a digital news journal in Hong Kong. “While the program’s critics have argued that it displaces U.S. workers in favor of foreign immigrants, companies argue that H-1B allows them to recruit the best talent globally. Without a doubt, the program is closely related to labor and business interests between the U.S. and Asia,” she writes.

Through her work, Bhatt aims to break barriers for marginalized groups, particularly immigrants. In this way, her research and writing continuously contributes to the campus community.

This full-day conference will focus on the unique needs of international students in their job search process in the United States. Topics will include H-1B and permanent resident statuses, negotiating for these statuses with potential employers, advice on getting the most out of your job search, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from experts, students, and employers to make sure they are fully prepared to meet their career goals in the United States.

Friday, February 8, 2019

9:30 AM - 4 PM

University Center 312

 
AN RSVP IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. Please RSVP via UMBCworks under Events- Workshops.
 

AGENDA INCLUDES:

·         Immigration lawyer

·         International student alumni panel

·         Career Center highlights

·         Employer panel

·         Job search strategies for F-1 students workshop

·         CPT/Intern Success Practicum overview

Please note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  If you would like to request accommodations (e.g., ASL interpreters, captioning, wheelchair access, etc.) for this event due to a disability, please notify us at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests received after that time cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to make arrangements for program access. Please contact the event host (careers@umbc.edu) with your specific request and be sure to include the event title, date, and time.