{"id":44,"date":"2026-07-14T10:17:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T14:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.web.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/?page_id=44"},"modified":"2026-07-14T10:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T14:17:33","slug":"umake-the-change","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/umake-the-change\/","title":{"rendered":"UMake the Change"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover fb-cover-text-box wp-duotone-black-and-white\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:100%;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/themes\/flintblock\/assets\/images\/sidewalk-art.jpg\" style=\"object-position:50% 95%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 95%\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient has-blue-gradient-gradient-background\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-15d3db16 wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brand-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-xx-large-font-size wp-elements-2f1079b8aed7e223ca84ebca34657480\">UMake the Change Student Innovation Competition<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><nav class=\"is-responsive is-vertical is-style-sidebar is-style-sidebar--1 wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-bd946717 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Sidebar Navigation\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container\"  id=\"modal-2\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-2-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive is-vertical is-style-sidebar is-style-sidebar--1 wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Home<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/in-business-directory\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">[IN] Business Directory<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/youth-entrepreneurship\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Youth Entrepreneurship<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/umake-the-change\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">UMake the Change<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/faqs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">FAQs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/resources\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Resources<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/webinars\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Webinars<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/contact-us\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Contact Us<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/UMake-The-Change-Logo-Full-Color-1024x222.png\" alt=\"Logo featuring stylized cubes in yellow and blue, with the text &quot;MAKE THE CHANGE&quot; in bold letters.\" class=\"wp-image-47\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/UMake-The-Change-Logo-Full-Color-1024x222.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/UMake-The-Change-Logo-Full-Color-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/UMake-The-Change-Logo-Full-Color-768x166.png 768w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/UMake-The-Change-Logo-Full-Color-1536x333.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/UMake-The-Change-Logo-Full-Color-2048x444.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/oed\/\">Office of Economic Development &amp; Community Engagement<\/a> is excited to announce that the UMake the Change Student Innovation Competition has expanded to serve all Flint-based college students. With generous funding from the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mott.org\/\">C.S. Mott Foundation<\/a>, we will award eight prizes to active students from Flint\u2019s three colleges and universities: Mott Community College, University of Michigan-Flint, and Kettering University, ranging from $150 to $1,000, for the 2025-26 academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The submission deadline is August 31, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdYAS96O5yIehsuYbVWjE0-rlDB0Z1pgZAqutxa2kv0rnZyoQ\/viewform\">UMake the Change Submission Form<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">About the Competition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UMake the Change is a student competition aimed at encouraging the innovative mindset among Flint college students from all disciplines. To participate, students will submit a short video pitch and PowerPoint describing their unique idea for an innovative product, service, process, or design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Benefits to Participants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Showcase your idea to change the world<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the knowledge you have learned in your classes and apply it to real world problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work with fellow students on innovative solutions that will make a difference<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enhance your resume and reveal your potential<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compete for an award and test the validity of your innovation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work with entrepreneurship experts to move your idea forward<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discover other entrepreneurs on campus and in the community to network with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Prize Winners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*All prizes are subject to financial aid policies. Individuals winning $500 or less will receive their award in the form of an all-purpose gift card. The winners must be enrolled in the fall 2025, winter 2026 or summer 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Overall<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Top Prize $1,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fan Favorite $500<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UM-Flint<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First Prize $250<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second Prize $150<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mott Community College<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First Prize $250<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second Prize $150<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kettering University<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First Prize $250<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second Prize $150<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All winners will also receive no-cost business mentorship and commercialization resources to move their idea forward! This can include business plan development, regulatory assistance, makerspace access and other business support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Rules\/Submission Guidelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Competition Rules &amp; Info<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Video must be between one and four minutes long, submitted as a MP4 or MOV file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PowerPoint presentations must be between 5 -15 slides in length.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teams must be enrolled in the fall 2025, winter 2026 or summer 2026 semester at UM-Flint, Mott Community College or Kettering. Teams must consist of between one and five students.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your idea must solve a problem in an innovative way. If a similar solution exists, yours must have a clear distinction and benefit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Winners may use the award in any way they wish. All prizes are subject to financial aid requirements. Individuals winning $500 or less will receive their award in the form of a gift card.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Submission Guidelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The suggested video\/PowerPoint structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Introduce yourself: name(s), category (e.g., Product, Service, Design, etc.), your major and what year you are in (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate student) and what college\/university do you attend?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explain your innovative solution: What is the problem you are trying to solve, and how will your innovation solve it?\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who the innovation is meant for: Who is the specific, intended target audience?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your idea already exists, describe the competition\/alternative and explain how your product\/service is better. If your idea does not exist then you should state that you have researched your idea and have not found a current producer of the good or service.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Briefly describe the potential for growth\/ scalability and any potential for IP protection (patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secret)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The video submission DOES NOT have to include yourself or your group members visually. Feel free to focus your video on other visual aspects related to your idea. Check out canva.com or other free editing websites for easy video editing.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Bv3oTExOQVU?si=qNYDLCm-zdGiEwPC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PowerPoint: creating a voice over presentation<\/a>&nbsp;is a video on how to make a voice-over PowerPoint presentation simple and easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The submission deadline is August 31, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have any questions, please contact Nic Custer at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:ncuster@umich.edu\">ncuster@umich.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Judging Criteria<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your idea is a clear solution to a problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The solution has a specific target audience or audiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your idea has a unique advantage over existing competitors and alternatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The solution is scalable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The solution is likely to be implemented.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sample Pitch Video- UMake 2021\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mWDKm3Iu7bI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Color Changing Gloves   (Example: UMake the Change)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vOJbe874mYs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-36078703 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1P_MP-pxhOkzeMJcpRjVOBYEQlA1qtX-B\/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1\">Business Pitch Presentation Template<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-brand-blue-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-brand-blue-background-color has-background is-style-dots\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/CSMF-Standard-Logo.png\" alt=\"Charles Stewart Mott Foundation logo featuring a stylized &quot;M&quot; in red and blue with the foundation&apos;s name below.\" class=\"wp-image-51\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/CSMF-Standard-Logo.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/CSMF-Standard-Logo-300x43.png 300w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/120\/2026\/07\/CSMF-Standard-Logo-768x109.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you to our funder,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mott.org\/\">CS Mott Foundation<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Office of Economic Development &amp; Community Engagement is excited to announce that the UMake the Change Student Innovation Competition has expanded to serve all Flint-based college students. With generous funding from the\u00a0C.S. Mott Foundation, we will award eight prizes to active students from Flint\u2019s three colleges and universities: Mott Community College, University of Michigan-Flint, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-44","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44\/revisions\/58"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/innovation-incubator\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}