North Carolina Central University News January 20, 2017 NCCU Students Participate in United Way Competition Approximately 17 North Carolina Central University<http://www.nccu.edu/> students competed in the United Way of the Greater Triangle's Idea Generation Next: College Edition.<http://www.innovateunited.org/ign/> The pitch competition encourages and promotes college students to share ideas that address social issues of local communities. During the competition, students learn about the challenges of local communities and work with area business professionals and entrepreneurs to refine their ideas for community improvements. Students who win the final round of the pitch competition receive funding and support to implement their ideas. During the initial idea-proposal phase of the competition, sophomore criminal justice major Tyler Walker won the People's Choice Award, along with a $250 prize for his presentation on mentoring and tuition assistance. Following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Pitch Competition on Jan. 16, four NCCU students - Walker, Destiny Alexander, Sean Jenkins and Alaye Washington - were selected to proceed to the next round. They are being paired with mentors to develop business plans and sharpen their presentation skills in preparation for the final pitch event that takes place on Feb. 24 for a $30,000 prize pool. The United Way of the Greater Triangle calls the program an opportunity to hear student creative ideas, foster teamwork, support the entrepreneurial spirit of the Triangle, and help build a future generation of leaders. "NCCU is honored to have the United Way of the Greater Triangle provide this outlet for our students to share innovative responses to some of the challenges that face our community," said Calleen Herbert, interim director of NCCU's Academic Community Service Learning Program. North Carolina State University, Shaw University, Saint Augustine's University, Wake Technical Community College and William Peace University also participated in the initiative. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/