Jackson State University students combined their business and health-care knowledge to create a winning business plan aimed at shrinking Mississippi’s obesity numbers. The team, composed of four students, won the recent JSU Social Entrepreneurship Business Plan Challenge and will receive a cash prize to develop their concept. They will also represent JSU at the statewide Blueprint Mississippi Social Entrepreneurship Business Challenge, which takes place Feb. 10, 2016.
Members of the winning squad, called Team iTECHealth, are:
- Kenya Gilkey, public health major
- Omar Khattab, entrepreneurship major
- Kaylin Kinchion, public health major
- DeAngelo Mitchell, business administration major
The team’s advisers are Dr. Marinelle Payton and Dr. Kenneth “Randy” Russ. The competition challenged students in multiple majors to create business ideas that can help solve Mississippi’s obesity and health-related issues.
“This is the second year of the competition, and we’re proud of the concepts created by students who are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of Mississippians,” said Dr. Evelyn Leggette, JSU’s provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.
A total of 35 students participated in the challenge and were a part of seven teams led by faculty advisers from the College of Business and the School of Public Health. The competition was the highlight of Mississippi Innovation Month hosted by JSU to showcase innovation at the university.
Dr. Loretta A. Moore, vice president for Research and Federal Relations, revealed the winning team Nov. 20 during a reception that honored all student participants. The Mississippi e-Center Foundation gave the winning team $300 and each participant a cash prize. Additionally, winners will receive free consultation from the Division of Research and Federal Relations’ Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization Unit to commercialize their idea.
“Due to the fact that the winning team will represent JSU at the statewide competition, we cannot disclose details of their business concept. The team has an excellent chance of winning the state competition,” Moore said. Other participating teams and students included:
Calorie Crushers Team
Christopher Madison (Entrepreneurship)
Yoseph Hailemarian (Electrical Engineering)
Prameela Alla (Public Health)
Byron Magee (Accounting)
Andra Lewis (Accounting)
Eyerusalem Woldu (Electrical Engineering)
Adviser: Brenda Campbell Jenkins, Ph.D.
Weightless Minds Team
Kiana Moore (Public Health)
Daquan Powell (Entrepreneurship)
Brionna Wells (Entrepreneurship)
Cedric Lang (Accounting)
Evan Peters (Public Health)
Christopher Lane (Public Health)
Advisers: Sophia S. Leggett, Ph.D., and Micah Crump, Ph.D.
Foober Team
Shuan Allen (Entrepreneurship)
Dimitri Bien-Aime (Business Administration)
Steven W. Day (Business Administration)
Veronica Hernandez (Public Health)
Anirudh Reddy Cingireddy (Computer Science)
Advisers: Clifton Addison, Ph.D., and Micah Crump, Ph.D.
Shake It Off Team
Damion Otto (Business Administration)
Toneca Pickens (Math, Math Education & English)
Cornelia Walker (Mathematics Education)
Shamille Peters (Public Health)
Daja Brent (Elementary Education)
D’Audrek West (Elementary Education)
Advisers: Kathy Bryant, Ed.D., and Donald Causey, Ph.D.
Bubbly Team
Savannah Alphin (Marketing)
Avery Brown (Marketing)
Gaston Douglas (Marketing)
Advisers: David Watkins, J.D., and Jarvis Knott, Ph.D.
Fit Friendz
Gregory Lane (Mass Communication)
Omari Dupree (Business Administration)
Eroncia Berry (Business Administration)
Christopher White (Marketing)
Seyed Mohammad Pourshaid (Behavioral Health Education and Promotion)
Advisers: Mohammed Shahbazi, Ph.D., and Ms. Aletha Washington