Purdue University Northwest and the Society of Innovators at PNW will host the Innovate WithIN Region 6 Finals April 18.

The program will be a live event in Alumni Hall at the PNW Hammond campus from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Innovate WithIN is a pitch competition for aspiring high school innovators and entrepreneurs. Student contestants can win $25,000 in funding, tuition and other prizes.

“The 2022 Innovate WithIN represents not only our biggest applicant participation, but our most diverse group of students,” said Don Wettrick, founder and CEO of STARTedUP Foundation. “In a day and age where we need innovators from all backgrounds, this year’s students will have the ability to fulfill our state’s need for young innovators and entrepreneurs.”

Eleven teams were selected from more than 400 regional applicants to compete in the Region 6 competition for a chance to win $1,000 and participation in the state finals. Region finalists include:

• Certikey: Conner Niemann, Andrew Navarro and Brett Herrin (Hobart High School)
• Clockworks of Indiana: Ethan Pinegar and Leandra Kelly (Hobart High School)
• Flower Power: Morgan Sanchez and Elijah Puente (Hobart High School)
• Outpost193: Ethan Lucas (Valparaiso High School)
• Patchables: Kayla Davis and Isis Fleming (Hobart High School)
• Picopack: Vance Vojslavek and Patrick Rall (Valparaiso High School)
• PupWizz: Jacob Thometz, Emma Miles and Sierra Sweeney (Munster High School)
• RepelSand: Braedon Rossetti and James Dillabaugh (Valparaiso High School)
• SimaraJae Creations: Simara Jenkins (Michigan City High School)
• SupDog: Teresa Burzynski, Daniella Nahnsen and Thomas Choros (Munster High School)
• WRM Medical Bands: Jelena Kolundzija (Hobart High School)

“Innovation is a mindset and our aim is to help develop youth to be innovators, entrepreneurs and collaborators,” added Sheila Matias, executive director of the Society of Innovators and Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest. “There is no better time to impact our growing innovation ecosystem than influencing the development of our Region's high school students.”

Purdue Northwest is offering additional incentives to participants and winners of Innovate WithIN who enroll at the university:

• A one-year (non-renewable) full-tuition scholarship will be offered to first place winners (at the NWI regional competition), once the winner is enrolled as a full-time student
• A one-year full tuition and room and board scholarship will be offered to first place winners at the state competition, once the winner is enrolled as a full-time student
• A $250 book scholarship will be offered to any competition participant who registers as a full-time student at PNW
• Students whose teams place first, second or third in the regional and/or state competition will have an opportunity to intern with the Society of Innovators or the NWI Small Business Development Center, for enrolling as a degree-seeking student at PNW

More information and free registration can be found at pnw.edu/innovate-within.