Innovate-Wellness logo

a light bulb iconWhat is the Challenge?

The Innovate Wellness Challenge is a case competition that encourages students from diverse backgrounds, majors, and interests to come together to solve some of the most pertinent health and wellness issues on campus through the Design Thinking Process.

 


an icon of peopleWho Can Participate?

Undergraduate Storrs-Main Campus UConn students can join the challenge by registering as a team of 3 or by registering as an individual who will be placed on a team with two other students. Students who do not wish to compete can support the challenge by attending the poster session and voting on student ideas.

 


a magnify glass iconHow Does The Challenge Work?

With support from staff and faculty, teams will create, prototype, and pitch their unique ideas to address a specific student health issue.

 


When Does The Challenge Occur?an icon of a calendar

The next Innovate Wellness Challenge will take place in the Fall 2024 semester.

 


an icon of a head-thinkWhy Should I Compete?

Students are the experts of their experiences and are in the best position to create and develop the interventions that will work best to support the health and wellbeing of UConn students. Each team will have the opportunity to build their skills, resumé, work with students, staff, and faculty, and have the chance to implement solutions.

 


an icon of $Is there a prize?

Yes! The winning team will receive scholarships money along with a chance to secure funding to pilot their idea!

Innovate Wellness Challenge FAQ

What is the Innovate Wellness Challenge? 

Student Health and Wellness, in partnership with the UConn Wellness Coalition and OPIM Innovate, brings together students, staff, and faculty from across campus to work towards one vision: UConn as a thriving, connected campus community that supports the full potential of every student. The Innovate Wellness Challenge is a case competition that encourages students from diverse backgrounds, majors, and interests to come together to solve some of the most pertinent health and wellness issues on campus through the Design Thinking Process. 

What is the Design Thinking Process? 

Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to solving challenges. One of the most common methodologies to design thinking is the 5-phase model. Empathize. Define. Ideate. Prototype. Test. This model will be used to facilitate idea development throughout the Innovate Wellness Challenge.  

Who Can Participate:  

Undergraduate Storrs-Main Campus UConn students can join the challenge by registering as a team of 3 or by registering as an individual who will be placed on a team with two other students. Students who do not wish to compete can support the challenge by attending the poster session and voting on student ideas. All students are welcome to participate in the Innovate Wellness Challenge Workshops.  

When Does the Challenge Occur?  

The Innovate Wellness Challenge takes place once per academic year. Please see the detailed schedule of events outlined below for more information and specific dates.

How Does the Challenge Work:  

With support from staff and faculty, teams will create, prototype, and pitch their unique ideas to address a specific student health issue. There are two competition rounds, workshops, and mentoring sessions.  

What Happens in the Competition Rounds? 

Round 1 is a poster presentation. Teams will create a poster using a template provided. These posters will be displayed and presented. Each team will also present a 5-minute pitch of their idea to a panel of student judges. Students and judges will vote on each pitch, and the top teams will move on to the finals. The top teams will select which idea from the poster presentations that they want to focus on and then work with staff and faculty to create a prototype. The teams will work with staff and faculty to create a plan for testing their prototype. Depending on feasibility and quality of idea, the top team or more than one team may have the opportunity to work with staff to implement their idea. 

What Will be Covered in the Workshops and Mentoring Sessions?  

There are a series of workshops that are open to all students who are interested in learning more about various components of innovation from budgeting to presentation skills. Innovate Wellness Challenge Teams should attend these workshops. After the workshop, Innovate Wellness Challenge Teams will work with faculty, staff, and peers on developing and refining their ideas.  

What is the Targeted Health Issue? 

This year’s Innovate Wellness Challenge asks students to think and develop how we can come together and holistically address the following question: How can UConn improve the health of both students and the environment in the midst of the climate crisis? 

Why Should I Compete?  

Students are the experts of their experiences and are in the best position to create and develop the interventions that will work best to support the health and wellbeing for themselves and their peers. Each team will have the opportunity to build their skills, resumé, work with students, staff, and faculty, and have the chance to implement solutions. 

Is there a Prize? 

Yes! The winning team will receive $1500 in scholarships along with a chance to secure funding to pilot your idea! 

What are Examples of Previous Innovate Wellness Challenge Winners? 

Previous winners include: The Holistic Huskies podcast & Wellness Points.  

 

Innovate Wellness Challenge Fall 2024 Schedule of Events

The next Innovate Wellness Challenge will take place in the Fall 2024 semester during the five weeks leading up to UConn's Thanksgiving break. Specifically, participants should be available on Wednesdays, Oct. 23 & 30, Nov. 6, 13 & 20, from 5-7pm.

REGISTRATION
What: All Innovate Wellness Challenge Team participants are registered and confirmed.  
When: By Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Where: Register Here 

KICK-OFF EVENT & WORKSHOP #1
What: During the Innovate Wellness Kick-Off Event & Workshop #1, we will review information regarding Innovate Wellness Challenge. Students will then work with their team and be paired with staff from Student Health and Wellness to help with idea generation and mentoring. Food will be provided.  
When: Wednesday, October 23, from 5-7 pm
Where: Student Union room 310

WORKSHOP #2
What: During the Innovate Wellness Challenge Workshop #2, student teams will work to refine their ideas with new mentors from across the university. Food will be provided.
When: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 5-7 pm 
Where: Student Union room 304A

WORKSHOP #3
What: The Innovate Wellness Challenge Workshop #3 is the final workshop and is designed to prepare the finalists for their poster presentations and final pitches. Food will be provided.
When: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 5-7 pm 
Where: Student Union room 324

POSTER PRESENTATION
What: Each team will present their ideas to audience members throughout the event. Feedback will be provided and the top three teams will continue on to Finals. Food will be provided.
When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 5-7 pm
Where: Student Union room 318

CHALLENGE FINALS! 
What: The Innovate Wellness Challenge Finals will be the event in which the top three student teams present their final pitch to a panel of judges, who will select the first, second and third place winners for that year's Challenge. Food will be provided.
When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 5-7 pm
Where: Student Union room 310

Innovate Wellness is a space for students to come together to and, through the design thinking process, develop innovative solutions for health and wellness concerns they see on campus. Students are able to join this process in 3 different ways, submit an idea, join or create teams to work on ideas, or provide feedback for on-going projects. Students are provided mentorship by UConn faculty and staff to develop their skills, build out their ideas, and prototype their innovations on campus during the process.

Design Thinking Process

Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to solving challenges. One of the most common methodologies to design thinking is the 5 phase model. Empathize. Define. Ideate. Prototype. Test. This model will be used to facilitate idea development throughout the Innovate Wellness Challenge. More information to come at the Challenge Kick-Off.

two heads icon- empathize

a target icon- define

a light bulb icon- ideate

pad and pen icon- prototype

clipboard icon- test

Empathize

Gain an understanding of the problem.

Define

Analyze to determine the problem.

Ideate

Challenge assumptions and create ideas.

Prototype

Start to create and develop solutions.

Test

Try and evaluate your solutions.

View the Spring 2024 Winners:

1st Place Winners

Green Garden presentation photo

The Green Garden

2nd Place Winners

Eco-Anxiety presentation photo

Tackling Eco-Anxiety Through Positivity

3rd Place Winners

Husky Cycle Share photo

Husky Cycle Share Competition

Honorable Mention:

ConnectUS: Nurturing Minds, Nature, and Community

Fall 2022 Winners!

1st Place Winners

IWC_Huski AI

Huski - Navigating UConn Through AI

2nd Place Winners

IWC_Huski AI

Dining Paw Passport

3rd Place Winners

IWC_Huski AI

Student Medical Fund Initiative (SMFI)

Click on the links below to learn more about each team's Poster Presentation!

Fall 2022 Topic: How can UConn improve existing services and resources on campus to take the burden of resource and support navigation off the student?

Team A: Huski-Navigating UConn Through AI

Team B: Dining Paw Passport

Team C: UConn Intern Network (UIN)

Team D: Personalized Resource Map

Team E: “Mental Support” Student Admin Tab

Team F: Student Medical Fund Initiative (SMFI)

Be Well Feel Well Do Well tagline logo

Innovate Wellness Challenge Spring 2024 Topic

This year’s Innovate Wellness Challenge asks students to think and develop how we can come together and holistically address the following question:

How can UConn improve the health of both students and the environment in the midst of the climate crisis?

Innovate Wellness Challenge Fall 2022 Schedule of Events

REGISTRATION
What: All Innovate Wellness Challenge Team participants are registered and confirmed.  
When: By Tuesday, October 18th, 2022.  
Where: Register Here 

KICK-OFF EVENT & WORKSHOP #1
What: During the Innovate Wellness Kick-Off Event & Workshop #1, we will review information regarding Innovate Wellness Challenge. Students will then work with their team and be paired with staff from Student Health and Wellness to help with idea generation and mentoring. Food will be provided.  
When: Wednesday, October 19, from 5:00-7:00 pm.  
Where: Wilson Hall 126 

WORKSHOP #2
What: During the Innovate Wellness Challenge Workshop #2, student teams will work to refine their ideas with new mentors who are both faculty and staff from across the university. Food will be provided.  
When: Thursday, October 27, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 pm 
Where: Wilson Hall 126 

POSTER PRESENTATION
What: Each team will present their ideas to audience members throughout the event. People will vote on their favorite ideas either in person or virtually (here) and the top three teams will continue on to Finals.
When: Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 pm  
Where: Wilson Hall 126, 112, & 113 

WORKSHOP #3
What: The Innovate Wellness Challenge Workshop #3 is the final workshop and is designed to prepare the finalists for their formal presentation pitch. Food will be provided. 
When: Thursday, November 10, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 pm  
Where: Wilson Hall 126 

CHALLENGE FINALS! 
What: Innovate Wellness Challenge Finals 
When: The week of November 14, 2022. Teams will be scheduled for their presentations.   
Where: Wilson Hall 126 

Innovate Wellness Challenge Fall 2022 Topic

This year’s Innovate Wellness Challenge asks students to think and develop how we can come together and holistically address the following question:

How can UConn improve existing services and resources on campus to take the burden of resource and support navigation off the student?

Meet the Innovate Wellness Team

Suzanne Onorato, Ph.D., Executive Director of Student Health and Wellness  

Karen McComb, M.S., Director of Health Promotion & Community Impact  

Jonathan Moore, MBA, Academic Director of Management Information Systems  

Kenna Grant, M.S., Health Promotion Manager  

Paula Kalksma McDowell, M.S., Health Promotion Project Coordinator 

Thomas Isleib, Innovate Wellness Intern  

Amanda Kilyk, Innovate Wellness Intern 

Richmond Le, Innovate Wellness Intern 

Lauren Solla, Innovate Wellness Intern 

Spring 2024 Innovate Wellness Challenge Topic:

"How can UConn improve the health of both students and the environment in the midst of the climate crisis?"

Spring 2024 Challenge Topic:

How can UConn improve the health of both students and the environment in the midst of the climate crisis?

2024 Poster Presentations

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