/ en /news/articles/2026-02-19/internship-alfred-police-helps-bring-classroom-lessons-life <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:10:52 +0000 Paul Welker 6213 at /news/articles/2026-02-04/alfred-state-awarded-grant-high-needs-nursing-fund-suny <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:27:17 +0000 Paul Welker 6191 at /news/articles/2025-12-18/professor-matteson-featured-medicaltechnologyschoolscom <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:15:00 +0000 Paul Welker 6151 at /news/articles/2025-11-04/pioneer-profiles-xzaviar-barrows <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:26:24 +0000 Paul Welker 6105 at /news/articles/2025-10-30/nine-senior-forensic-science-students-attend-neafs-conference <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:36:34 +0000 Paul Welker 6101 at /news/articles/2025-10-09/over-1000-students-explore-career-options-vast <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:12:23 +0000 Paul Welker 6039 at /news/articles/2025-10-08/alfred-state-hosts-college-english-conference <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:13:32 +0000 Paul Welker 6037 at /news/articles/2025-06/spring-deans-list-honors-755-alfred-state-students <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Paul Welker 5870 at /news/articles/2025-06/aquilina-cady-and-willson-honored-advising-award <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:03:18 +0000 Paul Welker 5869 at /news/articles/2025-06/pioneer-profiles-tyson-comfort <span>Pair of 爆走吃瓜 teams win prize money at sixth annual AHA Competition</span> <span><span>Paul Welker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-15T14:49:02-04:00" title="Wednesday, 15 April 2026 - 14:49">Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 14:49</time> </span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-04/PMD_6591.jpg.webp?itok=-YyiPNa4" width="480" height="320" alt> </div> Sara Schaubroeck presents at the sixth annual AHA competition. Sara and her partner Zaniya Day took third place and a $1,000 prize with their company Fostering Experiences. <p class="dropcap"><span>Two 爆走吃瓜 teams earned prize money at the sixth annual AHA! Allegany County Startup Collegiate Competition hosted at Houghton University. 爆走吃瓜 had four teams present pitches to the panel of judges.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Fostering Experiences, pitched by Zeniya Day (Rochester, NY) and Sara Schaubroeck (Rochester, NY) took third place and a $1,000 prize. Their company is a mobile event and public relations agency designed for rural college communities. They would plan and execute community events, provide marketing and branding support, employ students in paid skill-based roles, and connects college, students, and businesses. Tamanna Kabir, Assistant Professor of Business from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Stacy Gray of FLX Wine Tours served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Richard Rochester (Alfred Station, NY) and Tyson Comfort (Avoca, NY) pitched their company, Southern Tier TechworX, and were awarded the Viewer鈥檚 Choice Award. Their business will offer on-site computer and network repair services, available through monthly membership or affordable service fee, with pickup and delivery options. Joe Bailey, lecturer from 爆走吃瓜 College, served as academic mentor and Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass served as industry mentor.</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>ReGrow, developed by Alfred University students Amina Shamshibayeva, Vladyslava Makarenko, and Mike Maeda, took home top honors. ReGrow is working to produce sustainable, biodegradable packaging using mycelium and local organic waste. The process combines agricultural hay substrate with mycelium, which grows over five days in a controlled environment before being dried and finished to create an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging materials.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="dropcap"><span>Ignite Discovery Center, pitched by Houghton University students Katie Berghorn, Corban Gibson, and Elijah Fox, earned second place. The team is working to develop a local creative space for children in Allegany County, offering hands-on educational experiences, a community garden, event and party space, science kits, and unique exhibits replicating career paths which are designed to connect kids, parents, and the broader community.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Ashley Smith, Director of Economic Development for Allegany County, Sophia Marshall, Senior Program Manager at the University at Buffalo, and Filomena Jack, Artist, and Program Director at IncubatorWorks served as judges. The trio evaluated pitches made by thirteen teams.</span></p><p><span>Ashleigh Madison, the Executive Director of IncubatorWorks stated, "We are thrilled to have had a record-breaking 13 pitches this year from students across Alfred University, Houghton University, and 爆走吃瓜 College - the most in the competition's history! The students brought incredibly innovative and thorough pitches, and it was a wonderful day hosted at Houghton University.鈥�&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>She continued, 鈥淎t IncubatorWorks, we believe that cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in students is key to driving economic development in our region, and events like this are a testament to that mission. We are excited to see these students take their ideas forward and potentially launch businesses of their own. We especially applaud our winners for their environmentally conscious business concept. IncubatorWorks can't wait to see what next year's students come up with!"</span></p><p><span>The following teams also competed:</span></p><ul><li><p class="dropcap"><span>UniConnect (Alfred University 鈥� Vinci Armas and Mariam Swedan)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>The Healing Verse Blog (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Diamond Reddick and Dla Denise Mann)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Schedule Beacon (Alfred University 鈥� Christopher Coyle and Robby Hicks)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Jiaozi Bar (Alfred University 鈥� Anlun Zwerver and Sabrina Hryhoriev)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>GoalTrack (Alfred University 鈥� William Mahunda and Holly Beda Lymo)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>AccessCare Transport (爆走吃瓜 College 鈥� Christine Felder and Kadeem Belizaire)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>CoachMe (Alfred University 鈥� Mark Ungurian, Matthew Bittel, and Ryan Haggerty)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Dorm Sweep (Houghton University 鈥� Jonas Likens, Jared Wright, and Efrain Arellano-Onate)</span></p></li><li><p class="dropcap"><span>Bliss Planners (Houghton University 鈥� Logan Baer, Autumn Windham, and TJ Ehindero)</span></p></li></ul><p class="dropcap"><span>This event is made possible through a dedicated committee of partners including Alfred University, Houghton University, 爆走吃瓜 College, IncubatorWorks, Allegany County, Western NY Wilds, the ACCORD Corporation, and the Western New York Incubator Network. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors: Houghton University, CACT at Alfred University, Sealing Devices Inc., Hoselton, and the Alfred University School of Business.</span></p> <div class="news-article__categories"> <h2>Category</h2> <a href="/news/campus-news" hreflang="en">Campus News</a> <a href="/news/student-and-faculty-success" hreflang="en">Student and Faculty Success</a> <a href="/news/business" hreflang="en">Business</a> </div> Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:02:05 +0000 Paul Welker 5865 at