All kinds of imagination and possibility floated through promises of tech, AI, and entrepreneurial action at Drake State Community and Technical College on Monday when Innovation Power ‘H’ Hour’s spring tour was on a roll. The tour was hosted by The Alabama Collective in partnership with Innovate Alabama and focused on giving students the much-needed exposure required to synthesize the knowledge from classrooms with real-life applications. This initiative, without question, would serve to uplift the passions of students at the same time.
The Attractiveness of AI: A Student’s Take
The program was particularly relevant for student Brea Bradford because of its emphasis on AI and funding. “It was the AI, and then also learning how to get funding for your business,” said Bradford. By using AI to design her website, Bradford furnished further evidence of the increasing importance of AI in education and the workforce. She said, “AI is phenomenal.”
Workshop Learning: Events and Competitions
The Innovation Power Hour included two primary challenges: the Ideation Innovation Challenge, in which students implemented their ideas and the Innovation Design Challenge, in which students were asked to conceptualize the future of education through design thinking. In addition to these workshops, the program also included competitions in pitch presentation, cybersecurity, data analytics, and entrepreneurship, creating a well-rounded educational environment.
Putting Together Theory and Practice: Internships or Work Placements
As the program’s practical aspect, Dr. Carolyn Henderson, who is the Dean of Instruction at Drake State, pointed out, “This collaboration with The Alabama Collective allows our students to participate in projects where they can build apps or be involved in entrepreneurship.” She underlined the need to use the industry as a base for student mentoring and motivation for further studies.
The App Challenge: Path to Montgomery and Awards
One of the more notable parts was the app development challenge, which provided an opportunity for students to display their talent. The best ten app submissions from the fourteen participating HBCUs will be evaluated in a live pitch contest in Montgomery, which will award $17,000 in total prizes. This competition is helpful as a motivational tool for students, as well as a means for them to showcase their abilities to a broader audience.
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Nurturing Talent
Stokes said, “Our HBCUs are home to some of the brightest and most innovative, and it is a matter of fact that we need to enable them with technology, resources, and opportunities for leadership in AI, entrepreneurship, and other new fields.” In these regards, “The Innovation Power Hour” is practically a gift for such students, a skillful investment towards their success in the future workforce.
The achievement of the event at Drake State exposes the need for students to be active in critical and innovative work coupled with the latest technologies as well as affording their education. With the collaboration of school and industry, the Innovation Power Hour helps students to challenge the status quo and become entrepreneurs.
