Neil Armstrong UC Forward Innovation Award 2021 winners announced
Team of three from diverse disciplines excel in innovation course
Each spring, the University of Cincinnati’s Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career Education honors students in experience-based learning programs.
One such program is UC Forward, which draws students from different disciplines together to tackle real-world problems with a corporate or nonprofit partner. Students practice the creative processes of research, innovation and cross-disciplinary teamwork while addressing complex problems.
The 2021 Neil Armstrong UC Forward Innovation Award goes to:
- Deborah Park, senior, architecture, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
- Aravind Murali, senior, electrical engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
- Jacquelyn Chapman, senior, biomedical engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
As a part of a class sponsored by the Kroger Co.’s Zero Hunger/Zero Waste Foundation, this interdisciplinary team focused on using marketing, psychological and social strategies to help reduce food insecurity and the stigma of food insecurity on campus.
“Understanding the stigma is such an important topic when trying to reach and educate others,” says team member Deborah Park. “I was constantly needing to re-educate myself on issues such as food insecurity and food waste throughout our research."
Teammate Aravind Murali was challenged intellectually, too. “I enjoyed learning the different methods on how to creatively brainstorm ideas for tackling the issue of hunger and food waste,” he says.
Team member Jacquelyn Chapman was struck by the usefulness of the course, observing that “throughout the course I felt as though I was learning essential information that I will translate into my everyday life and creating a substantial positive impact in my community.”
Their story helps to illustrate why the University of Cincinnati is a top five university for co-ops and internships, according to U.S. News Best Colleges rankings.
Feature image at top: 2021 Neil Armstrong UC Forward Innovation Award team (L-R): Jacquelyn Chapman, Aravind Murali, Deborah Park. Photo/Provided
Next Lives Here
Related Stories
UC education allowed couple to make mark on Cincinnati
April 24, 2024
As a native of Defiance, Ohio, John Deatrick, CEAS ’79, says arriving in Cincinnati to attend the University of Cincinnati in 1963 felt like landing in New York City.
Engineering student studying flight physics of birds
April 24, 2024
After earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in Nepal, Sameer Pokhrel came to the United States to further his education. From an early age, he had a lifelong fascination with aviation. As an adult, he transformed this fascination into a career, pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati's historic program. Here, he has succeeded in research, instruction, and was recently named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
The graduating class of 2024 shares creative works across 15...
April 24, 2024
DAAP’s Graduating Class of 2024 shares creative works across 15 interdisciplinary degree programs at DAAPworks.