High school students tackle opioid abuse for the win at iChallengeU state business contest sponsored by Baker College

A team of students from high schools in Lenawee County won the first iChallengeU state championship, July 28, at Baker College’s Jackson campus, and each team member took home a two-year scholarship for any Baker College campus, including Baker College Online.

Winning second place was a team from northeastern Ottawa County.

The iChallengeU competition pairs students with a business or organization to develop a solution to a real-world challenge. Teams are judged on the substance and quality of their business plan presentations that provide their solutions.

“Because Baker College has a long history – more than 100 years – in providing business career education, we understand the power of connecting youth with professionals in their community in exploration of career options,” said Steve Simpson, Ed.D., Baker College of Jackson president. “This valuable learning exercise allows students to see a business or organization from the inside and learn how personally rewarding a career in business can be.”

At the regional contests in Jackson and Holland, teams had two weeks to understand their paired business or organization and the challenge, develop a solution, prepare a business plan and communicate it in a 10-minute presentation for judging. Five teams advanced to the state competition and presented their business plans from the regional contests.

The winning team paired with the Lenawee County Education Foundation (LCEF), Adrian, to address a challenge affecting opioid abuse: How do we get prescription drugs back where they belong?

LCEF team members were David Calvo, Kennedi Price and Harley Sholl from Hudson Area Schools; Kate Flynn from Madison High School; Ryanna Merillat from Onsted Community Schools; and Alexia Ferguson from Adrian Public Schools. Their coach was Kelly McNicol, Communities In Schools of Lenawee County substance abuse prevention specialist.

The second-place team paired with Grand Haven Township Fire/Rescue Department, Grand Haven, to address the challenge: What ambulance service model will provide the best care for our community?

Grand Haven Township team members were Kate Criswell, Elizabeth Egerer, Carlos Rappleye and Chloe Weigel from Grand Haven High School, and William Easterly, Samual Negen and Emily Sievertsen from Spring Lake High School. Their coaches were Rachel Kooiker, Spring Lake Public Schools, and Nate Keppler, Grand Haven Public Schools.

Other teams that competed at the state contest involved students representing high schools throughout Jackson, Lenawee and Ottawa counties. They were paired with the John and Mary Dahlem Environmental Education Center, Jackson; Orbitform, Jackson; and Continental Dairy Facilities, Coopersville.

Regional and state contest sponsors include Baker College, Michigan Works! Southeast and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.

For more information about iChallengeU or Baker College business programs, contact Dan Smith in the admissions office at daniel.smith@baker.edu or 517.788.7800, or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1911, Baker College grants doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as certificates in diverse academic fields including applied technology, business, education, engineering, health science, information technology and social science. Baker College has on-ground campuses throughout Michigan and offers online programs that can be completed 100 percent online without ever visiting a campus. In 2016, the Online Learning Consortium recognized Baker College Online with the OLC Quality Scorecard Exemplary Endorsement, the highest ranking for online higher education programs. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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Photo caption

Members of the state-championship iChallengeU Team LCEF and their coach sport the silicone wristbands they created to increase awareness of the dangers of prescription drugs. During the 2017-2018 academic year, team members plan to implement many of the strategies they developed for the contest.