A competitively selected team of students got the chance to represent Indiana State University at the Innovation Sprint Challenge in Indianapolis last month. The two-day event was sponsored by the Indiana Sports Corporation and the NCAA, bringing together students from across the state to tackle real-world challenges connected to the NCAA Final Four tournament.
Brookelyn Corona, Piper Watkins, Drew Tort, and Nolan Rissen were selected through a competitive process to represent the university in the high-impact, collaborative challenge. Throughout the event, students worked in teams to design an innovative and actionable plan to address a key issue related to the Final Four. The experience culminated with formal presentations delivered to a panel of industry judges.
Students were accompanied by Natasha Rascon, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Communication, who led the field experience and supported students throughout the two-day event. The trip emphasized experiential learning by allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in a professional, real-world setting.
In addition to the competition, students participated in professional networking opportunities with sport industry professionals and employers from across Indiana. These sessions offered valuable insight into career paths within collegiate athletics, event operations, and sports marketing.
The experience was partially funded by the Indiana State University Career Center through an Employer Field Trip Grant, reinforcing the university’s commitment to career readiness and applied learning.