Clarkson Ignite

Do “healthy” beverages seem too good to be true? If so, then you agree with one of the newest members of Ignite’s Cube student business accelerator, Nuovo Brands LLC! Owned by Clarkson University Engineering & Management sophomores Ethan Flamand and Rocco Albanese, Nuovo aims to revitalize the beverage industry with an alternative that maximizes flavor while maintaining health. Thanks to a second-place win at the 2024 North Country Regional Business Plan Competition (a special NYBPC event) and the third-place prize at the inaugural Ignite Project Expo last fall, Nuovo is primed for success. The Cube is just one of the many ways Ignite cultivates a unique entrepreneurial mindset within students across the Clarkson community. With the help of our close friends at the Shipley Center for Innovation, this highly-competitive opportunity helps trailblazing companies make a meaningful impact worldwide, as well as important profits, too. With the 2025 Business Plan Competition just a month away, we can’t wait to see what Nuovo does next. As Ethan and Rocco always say - stay fresh! (Photos by Justin Bouchard of Clarkson Ignite)

When given limited time and resources, what’s the best way to rapidly develop a new business venture? With the support of your fellow entrepreneurs, of course! On January 31st, our close friends at the Shipley Center for Innovation co-hosted the inaugural North Country Launch Day, an intense, nine-hour event where teams of local student entrepreneurs brainstormed real-world problems, conducted customer discovery procedures, and presented their resulting plans to investors as quickly and effectively as possible. With all said and done, nearly 50 students from Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence University, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Jefferson Community College, and State University of New York College at Potsdam took part in the day’s activities, igniting their entrepreneurial fire in a unique North Country way and setting the stage for impactful innovations that will help make the world a better place. See you next year! PS - Do you have an entrepreneurial endeavor that you’d like to grow? Join us on April 4th for the 13th annual North Country Regional Business Plan Competition! Visit bit.ly/NCRBPC25X to learn more about this special NYBPC event and register by March 1st. (Photos by Jacob McNamara of Clarkson University and Greg Kie of SUNY Canton)

Stop by Clarkson Ignite – Where Innovation Takes Shape! ?? ?? ? At Clarkson Ignite, trailblazing students and faculty come together to tackle real-world problems, explore new horizons, and transform passions into groundbreaking innovations and entrepreneurial pursuits. This is where ideas ignite into action. ??? ? ?? What Makes Clarkson Ignite Exceptional?? ? The Dorf Makerspace and Makers' Loft, two dynamic hubs for hands-on learning, STEM-powered creation, and cutting-edge design.? ? Campus-wide competitions where students showcase visionary projects that make a meaningful impact on the world.? ? A leading student entrepreneurship center that connects bold business ideas with critical mentorship and funding opportunities.? ? ?? Imagine yourself here, leading the charge and shaping the future. Ready to make your mark? Discover Clarkson Ignite today!? ? #ClarksonU #ClarksonIgnite #InnovationHub #FutureLeaders #HandsOnLearning

As the semester came to a close, two of Ignite’s most versatile students reached a key milestone - graduation! During Clarkson University’s December Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, Ignite Presidential Fellows Tyler Yankee and Kelsey Hamilton crossed the finish line after three-and-a-half years of exciting achievements, extreme dedication, and outstanding leadership across the Clarkson community. Next month, Tyler will be joining Kitware Inc. as a Research and Development Engineer, while Kelsey will become Ignite’s newest Graduate Fellow during her pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management. With another semester just around the corner, we can’t wait to see who graduates next. Until then, enjoy a well-deserved winter break - we’ll see you in the new year! (Order of the Engineers Photo by Connor Frasier of Clarkson University)

The best way to celebrate the holiday season is with friends - especially those from Clarkson! Last night, the Ignite family gathered to build elaborate gingerbread structures, trade presents during a frenzied white elephant gift exchange, and take part in a potluck like no other. Besides an even longer evening, is there any way we could have had more fun?

How can we best highlight the amazing and groundbreaking projects being developed by Clarkson students and faculty? By creating a brand-new showcase for just that! Last Friday, we hosted the inaugural Ignite Project Expo, where nearly 350 students presented 93 unique projects across all disciplines and backgrounds. We saw entrepreneurial endeavors, digital art creations, robotic constructions, hand-made board games, community outreach efforts, sustainability initiatives, and so much more. With all said and done, let’s give a shoutout to the amazing teams who presented their hard work during the Expo. Their incredible creativity and interdisciplinary spirit has never been more evident, and we know they’ll continue to make fantastic accomplishments at Clarkson. Have a great rest of your break! (Photos by Jacob McNamara of Clarkson University)

What’s the best way to tell that the semester is filled with excitement and fun? With the smiling faces of our IPFs and Maker Mentors, of course! Ignite’s been up to a lot over the past few weeks. We’ve attended a career fair, co-hosted an exclusive New Knights Expo for new Golden Knights, and… made an Ignite-themed charcuterie board?! One thing’s for sure - at Ignite, boredom doesn’t exist. (Photos by Jacob McNamara of Clarkson University and Maker Mentors from Clarkson Ignite)

A new school year is upon us, and with that comes a brand-new class of Golden Knights! Last month, Ignite welcomed its newest Ignite Presidential Fellows and Maker Mentors with an invigorating and bombastic series of Pre-Orientation events. Throughout the week, we completed intensive Makerspace training sessions, faced downpours while completing a high ropes course, shared thrilling Clarkson-themed ghost stories, 3D-scanned the actual Golden Knight, and so much more! It’s safe to say that the year is off to a fantastic start - and we know that the best is yet to come. Get ready to Think, Make, Ignite! (Ignite Innovation Photo by Jacob McNamara of Clarkson University)

To all of the Clarkson alumni out there, when was the last time you visited campus? How about the Makerspace? For some of you, it was a few days ago! Last Saturday, during Clarkson University’s Reunion Weekend, over 100 alumni came to the Dorf Makerspace for an exclusive open house event. While chatting, sharing fond memories, and catching up, they learned about the equipment in the space, and made some Clarkson-themed crafts in the process! It was great to have them back on campus - especially those who had never seen the space before. And to the alumni who weren’t able to make it last weekend, feel free to stop by the Makerspace when it’s open! We’d love to show you around and hear your thoughts on what we have to offer. (Photos by Connor Frasier of Clarkson University)

And that’s a wrap! After four months, over 6,000 3D prints, and far too many puzzle mazes, the Spring 2024 semester has reached its end - even if a little bittersweet. During Clarkson University’s Spring 2024 Commencement, some of Ignite’s most dedicated and accomplished students reached the final point of their undergraduate careers, crossing that finish line and joining the ranks of Clarkson alumni! It’s no surprise that they’ll continue to do amazing things wherever they go. Take, for instance, Maker Mentors Taylor Clayton and Jacob Cassi, who will be joining Caterpillar Inc.’s Engineering Rotational Development Program in July - and will absolutely be visiting the Makerspace as alumni this fall! Or Ignite Presidential Fellow Miles Compani, EIT Compani, who received the Levinus Clarkson Award, and is staying at Clarkson in pursuit of both a PhD and MS, while also working as Ignite’s Executive Fellow. Even Ignite’s very own Director, Ashley Sweeney, took part in the celebration, having received the Kristin Craig Memorial Faculty Recognition Award during the Clarkson Honors Commencement Brunch! This award was voted on by the entire Honors Program student body, and although we’re a bit biased, it couldn’t have been given to a more deserving recipient. That’s all for now, but stay tuned for all things Ignite later this year, as we get ready for even more amazing events and activities. Until then - have a great summer! Group Photo Rear (L-R): Conor Miller-Lynch, Colden Ball, Jacob Cassi, Evan Turner Front (L-R): Alexandra Schie, Gabriella Ballestas, Catherine Gehman, Evelyn Maerten, Taylor Clayton, Miles Compani, EIT (Commencement Photos by Connor Frasier and Jacob McNamara of Clarkson University)