Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution Announces February 22 Application Deadline For American Evolution Innovators Cup Competition
Virginia College and University Student Teams to Compete for Cash Prizes Totaling $60,000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution announced the February 22, 2019, application deadline for the American Evolution Innovators Cup, which will be held at the Tom Tom Summit & Festival on April 11 and 12. The annual competition challenges undergraduate teams of Virginia students to develop innovative solutions that address issues facing both the Commonwealth and the nation. Virginia student teams are encouraged to apply here for their chance to win cash prizes totaling $60,000, as well as access to mentorship opportunities and investor meetings.
The 2019 competition features two challenges: The Social Impact Challenge and The Commonwealth Challenge. The Social Impact Challenge encourages participants to reimagine the high school of the future and design a concept addressing a need or gap that exists given today's high school model. Teams will identify specific or broad problems that can be addressed with innovative approaches to education in order to prepare students with the skills they will need to succeed in the workplace of the future.
In The Commonwealth Challenge student teams will submit an entry based on their existing startup or identify and commercialize intellectual property where a Virginia higher education researcher is a "principal investigator." Colleges and universities in Virginia spend over $1.5 billion on research and development. Invention and research of all types abound in the Commonwealth, yet each year many of these discoveries go overlooked for their potential commercial applications. Student teams will create commercial concepts around Virginia's intellectual property assets, research potential markets and develop go-to market strategies.
The 2019 Commemoration has partnered with notable Virginia institutions and national partners like the Tom Tom to inspire local, national and international engagement in the themes of democracy, diversity and opportunity. American Evolution is commemorating formative events that occurred in 1619 Virginia, including the first representative legislative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first recorded African in English North America, the recruitment of English women in significant numbers to the Virginia colony, the first official English Thanksgiving in North America and the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of the Virginia colony. A full schedule of American Evolution programming, upcoming events, and educational initiatives can be found at: https://www.americanevolution2019.com/events/
About the 2019 Commemoration
The 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution™, highlights events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured programs, events and legacy projects position Virginia as a leader in education, tourism and economic development. American Evolution™ commemorates the ongoing journey toward the key ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. Dominion Resources is an American Evolution Founding Partner and Altria Group and TowneBank are Virginia Colony Partners.
ABOUT THE TOM TOM FOUNDATION AND THE FESTIVAL
The Tom Tom Foundation is a nonprofit organization that champions entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation in America's small cities. Tom Tom's flagship event is a weeklong Summit & Festival that takes place in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson's birthday each April. Tom Tom welcomed over 20,000 attendees to Charlottesville, VA in 2018 and has channeled nearly $3.1 million to new ventures since its inception in 2012. Learn more at www.tomtomfest.com.
SOURCE American Evolution
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