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Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution Announces Student Team Semifinalists And Celebrity Judges For American Evolution Innovators Cup Competition


CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution announced the celebrity judging panel and student team finalists for the American Evolution Innovators Cup competition. The annual competition, which showcases Virginia's academic excellence, will be held April 12 at the Tom Tom Summit & Festival.

2019 Commemoration AMERICAN EVOLUTION (PRNewsfoto/2019 Commemoration) (PRNewsfoto/2019 Commemoration)

The 2019 American Evolution Innovators Cup competition features two challenges: The Social Impact Challenge and The Commonwealth Challenge. The Social Impact Challenge encourages participants to reimagine the high school of the future and design a concept addressing a need or gap that exists given today's high school model and develop an innovative approach to education that will prepare students with the skills they will need to succeed in the workplace of the future. In The Commonwealth Challenge student teams will submit entries based on their existing startup, or identify and commercialize intellectual property where a Virginia higher education researcher is a "principal investigator."

A panel of industry expert judges will hear presentations from the Virginia student team finalists and select winners of the competition's cash prizes totaling $60,000, as well as access to mentorship opportunities and investor meetings. The competition's celebrity judges include:

"The diverse panel of judges selected for the American Evolution Innovators Cup represent Virginia's innovative spirit," said Kathy Spangler, Executive Director of the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution. "By challenging undergraduate students to develop solutions to social issues facing both Virginia and the nation, this competition helps lay the foundation to continue this innovative success in future generations."

This year, 42 student teams representing 17 Commonwealth colleges and universities and two high schools have been selected to participate in the American Evolution Innovator's Cup.  

Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution has partnered with notable Virginia institutions and national partners like Tom Tom Festival to inspire local, national and international engagement in the themes of democracy, diversity and opportunity. American Evolution is commemorating formative events that occurred in 1619 Virginia, including the first representative legislative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first recorded African in English North America, the recruitment of English women in significant numbers to the Virginia colony, the first official English Thanksgiving in North America and the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of the Virginia colony. A full schedule of American Evolution programming, upcoming events, and educational initiatives can be found at: https://www.americanevolution2019.com/events/

About the 2019 Commemoration
The 2019 Commemoration, American Evolutiontm, highlights events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured programs, events and legacy projects will position Virginia as a leader in education, tourism and economic development. American Evolutiontm commemorates the ongoing journey toward the key ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. Dominion Energy is an American Evolution Founding Partner and Altria Group and TowneBank are Virginia Colony Partners.

About the Tom Tom Foundation and Founders Festival
The Tom Tom Foundation is a nonprofit organization that champions innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship in America's small cities. Tom Tom's flagship event is a weeklong festival that takes place in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson's birthday each April. The Festival welcomed over 20,000 attendees to Charlottesville, VA in 2018 and has channeled nearly $3.1 million to new ventures since its inception in 2012. Learn more about Tom Tom and its mission at www.tomtomfest.com

AMERICAN EVOLUTION INNOVATORS CUP SEMIFINALISTS

Commonwealth Challenge

Reinventing High School Challenge

 

SOURCE American Evolution



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