Blackstone LaunchPad pushes new thinking at Make It Better

The cliche, "Get 'em while they're young" applies when it comes to the Walsh College Blackstone LaunchPad's Make It Better competition. The event challenges Michigan-based high school students to think outside of the proverbial box and redesign an existing product or service or develop a new one. The end goal is to create something that helps improve the quality of life and improves their community or the Great Lakes State. The competition's goal is to foster critical thinking skills and encourage more young people to consider a life in entrepreneurship. "They have no barriers in their thinking," says Carol Glynn, director of Blackstone LaunchPad at Walsh College in Troy. "We want them to start down a path of innovation. The older we get the more barriers we put for ourselves." Among the winners are Kirsten Gendron, who took first place ($500) for her idea of a chewing gum that filters harmful toxins of second-hand smoke. Second place ($250) went to Rebecca List for her entry of a Wi-Fi Lifesaver Wristband. Hannah Beller won third place ($250) for her "Wake Me Up Blanket", an electric blanket that gradually circulates chilling temperatures as encouragement to get sleepy owners out of bed. A grant from the Charles M. Bauervic Foundation funded the competition. It is open to all high school and college students in Michigan. This year's Make It Better competition was the second. Glynn says plans are in the making for a third installment next year. "We definitely intend on doing it again next year," Glynn says. "We will probably do it earlier." Source: Carol Glynn, director of Blackstone LaunchPad at Walsh College Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.