The competition is a partnership between Winthrop and the Technology Incubator at
Knowledge Park. A total of seven teams developed an "innovation" company and created a business model
canvas for it. 
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA Would you use a social media platform that connects alumni
to current students, a connection that would hopefully result in mentorships, job
opportunities, student retention and more donor gifts?
Winthrop University students Tadean Page and Ta'Niss Robinson think you would.
That's the concept behind "The Plug," an idea that won them first place and $1,500 at the 4th Annual Student Innovation Competition this past weekend. The competition is a partnership between Winthrop and the
A total of seven teams developed an "innovation" company and created a business model
canvas for it. The Technology Incubator offered teams coaching as they honed their
pitches throughout late February. Teams had five minutes to pitch their ideas to the
judges on March 2. Judging criteria included innovation and the uniqueness of the
idea; how business-ready the idea was; the use of technology; and response to feedback
from potential customers.
The winners were:
1st place: "The Plug," by Page (individualized studies, Dillon, South Carolina) and Robinson
(psychology, Sumter).
2nd place: "Timeless Frames," by Ke'Asia Lance (health care management, Rock Hill) and Nick
Oxendine (integrated marketing communication, Rock Hill)
3rd place: "Good2Give" by Imani Belton (integrated marketing communication, Simpsonville), Cameryn
Mitchell (business administration, Charlotte, North Carolina) and Justin Rose (business
administration, Elgin)
The Audience Choice Award went to "DNA" by Deminique Quinones (modern languages, Summerville) and Niyesha McDaniel
(mass communication, Ladson)
