Inaugural Whitman Dean’s Sustainable Development Goals Innovation Challenge Awards $25,000 in Prizes
Bandages that monitor for diabetic foot ulcers and creating safe spaces for conversations about sexual wellness and self-love were just some of the winning innovations presented at the Whitman School Dean’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Innovation Challenge on April 18.
The challenge was a semester-long initiative coordinated by Erin Draper, director of experiential programs, with Jude Azai ’24 MBA and Aakanksha Maheshwari ’25 M.S., that encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration as students honed their problem-solving and critical thinking skills around the 17 United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. While each team was required to have one Whitman student, participants came from across the University and included undergraduate, graduate, online and doctoral students. The students received no academic credit for participating but did so because of their passion for innovation and sustainability.
Fourteen graduate and 17 undergraduate teams submitted reports in March, which resulted in the selection of the “Elite 8” – the top four undergraduate and graduate submissions thought to have the greatest potential to make an impact on sustainable development goals across disciplines.
Round one of the Dean’s Challenge was a comprehensive project report which was scored by alumni Jerome Ryan '99, '13 MBA, head of U.S. Operations at Carbonaires, and Karen Livingston '12 MBA, chief financial officer of CG Spectrum, as well as faculty members Anna Chernobai and Mark Coleman. Scores in this round determined the Elite 8. Criteria for scoring included innovation, impact to the SDG, feasibility, readiness and report quality.
On April 18, teams displayed posters and posted 45-second YouTube videos about their projects, while judges Mark Coleman, adjunct faculty, Whitman School; Professor of Finance Anna Chernobai, Whitman School; Brian Macrae ’01 MBA, managing partner, Synapse; Cary Mullin ’08 MBA, vice president and general manager, broadband solutions, Belden Inc.; Megan Quill ’05, vice president, finance, Smartest Energy; and Meg Tidd, CEO of VIP Structures; heard six-minute pitches from the “Elite 8” vying for $25,000 in cash prizes to help further their projects.
“Whitman is committed to creating leaders that understand the importance of sustainability for the future and where our students can use their innovative problem-solving skills to begin to address some of the grand challenges our society is facing,” says Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. “By providing real-world solutions to issues listed among the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, our students have shown how we can come together as a community to make the world a better place. I’m also delighted to support our students’ efforts in experiential learning, where they emphasize team work, communication and developing innovative solutions that help to create the next generation of responsible business leaders and entrepreneurs.”
The following awards were presented at the event:
THE WHITMAN INNOVATION GRAND PRIZE: $5,000
Moody Management LLC: The undergraduate team of Jennie Bull ’24, Julianna Hernandez ’24 (FALK) and Emma Lueders ’24 (VPA) created a sex-positivity community media platform with a safe space for conversations about sexual wellness and self-love. It addresses the SDG of good health, gender and reducing inequalities.
DiabeTech: The team of Tosin Alabi ’25 M.S., Manjusha Baddipudi ’25 M.S. (A&S) and Katayoon Faraji ’25 MBA took the grand prize with an innovative “smart bandage” to prevent diabetic foot ulcers. The product looks much like an ordinary bandage but is equipped with sensors and uses AI analytics to monitor wounds, signaling patients and doctors of signs of infection to prevent gangrene or amputation. DiabeTech addressed the SDG of good health, technology and reducing inequalities.
FIRST RUNNER UP: $3,000
Haynie’s Heroes: The undergraduate team of Gokdenis Ersoy ’25 (WSM/IST), Aiden Robinson ’26 (IST), William Akerson ’24 (WSM/IST) and Nicholas Santangelo ’25 (IST) developed an innovative platform for convenient, fast and efficient refurbishing of e-waste covering the SDG of quality education, reduction of inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, and responsible consumption and production.
Eco Guardians: The graduate team of Aman Kumar ’25 M.S., Prashant Gautam ’25 (IST), Kushwanth Sai Chandu Meesala ’25 M.S. (IST) and Shivani Mangesh Sadare ’24 M.S. created a program for “climate literacy” in the education system to promote learning, awareness and self-incentivization of preserving the planet to help teachers and students have better understanding of the consequences of waste on the environment. The SDG were quality education and climate action.
SECOND RUNNER UP: $2,000
University Diaries: The undergraduate team of Sarah Schoenecker ’27 and Garv Prabhaker ’27 created an interactive online platform designed to help high school students through the college application process, particularly first-generation and underserved students who may lack resources, as well as newly enrolled college students. The SDG were quality education and reducing inequalities.
Circular Sages: The graduate student team of Trang Nguyen ’25 MBA, Akarsh Bhutani ’24 M.S. (MAX) and Monthip Sonethavong ’24 M.S. (MAX) created WasteWise, a digital platform for responsible consumption in the textile industry that identifies and manages resources through waste mapping and methods of eliminating excess materials in the marketplace. It addresses the SDG of responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, and life on land.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD: $1,000
Daredevils: The team of graduate students Natasha Lobo ’25 M.S., Dishant Bhansali ’25 M.S. and Bhavya Chheda ’25 M.S. designed a portal for the management of e-waste that connects customers, service centers and recyclers. This award was selected by audience vote at the event.
SDG BLACKBOARD DISCUSSION AWARD: $1,000
Eco Guardians (see project description above) was selected based on weekly discussions throughout the competition related to SDG.
MOST IMPACTFUL INNOVATION AWARD: $1,000
Boundless Why: The undergraduate team of Xiangyi Han ’26, Jingjing Wu ’25 (NEW/VPA) and Minna You ’25 (EDU) were selected for this award for creation of a global online community that provides art resources and therapy for teenagers with autism.
BEST CREATIVE VIDEO AWARD: $1,000
KG’s: The team of Ghonche Khalaj ’26 Ph.D.; Ali Kozehgaran ’26, Ph.D.; Adhadreza Safasinia ‘28 Ph.D. (SUNY ESF); Seyed Babak Seyd Asadollah ’28 (SUNY ESF) and Seyedehniloufar Mousavi ’27 (SUNY ESF) was selected for a video presentation on AgriNect, an app designed to find and tip farmers whose products consumers enjoy.
BEST COLLABORATIVE DIVERSE TEAM: $1,000
Circular Sages: (see project description above) was selected for best representation of students from different backgrounds and various schools, as well as the contribution by each team member.
For more information, visit the Dean’s SDG Innovation Challenge page on our website.
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