First Student Awards for “Idea Competition” Presented at Homecoming Sept. 17

Rensselaer alumnus and entrepreneur Sean O’Sullivan ’85 has donated $1 million to create the “Change the World Challenge,” an initiative to support entrepreneurship education and stimulate ideas to improve the human condition.  The program was officially launched Sept. 17 with the first round of $1,000 awards presented to five Rensselaer students.

Award ceremony for first "Change the World Challenge" at Homecoming: (L to R) RAA Executive Board Member John Cococcia '94, with award winners Joseph Choma, Brendan Kavanagh, Casey O'Donnell, Danika Patrick, and Cheuk Wa Yuen, with President Jackson. Photo by Kris Qua

O’Sullivan earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Rensselaer in 1985.  He is one of the founders of MapInfo, a global software company headquartered in Rensselaer’s Technology Park.  He also is founder of Jumpstart International, a humanitarian organization created in 2003 that focuses on rebuilding and reconstruction in war-torn Iraq and in the Gaza Strip.

“In extraordinary ways, through words and deeds, Sean O’Sullivan has demonstrated the power of ideas to change the world,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “Through Sean’s million-dollar ‘Change the World Challenge’ gift, he is inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs at Rensselaer to follow in his fine footsteps, taking risks working to address important questions with answers that bring value to the world. This is high-impact generosity at its best.”  

“I hope this contest will provide both a kick in the pants and financial and logistical support to students willing to believe and take action to change the world,” said O’Sullivan. “I want to awaken students – particularly engineering students – to the knowledge that their talent can and should be used on large scale ideas that can improve the planet. Today’s five winners represent the first batch of these innovators. We hope this contest will inspire a stream of innovation, every semester, which will help in the development of the world.”

Idea Competition
At the core of the Change the World Challenge, is an “idea competition” to be held each semester.  Students – as individuals or in teams – will select a topic from a list of challenges to use science and/or engineering to improve human life, and offer a solution to that challenge which is not currently available and is sustainable long term. A minimum of $1,000 will be awarded to each of up to five winners. 

First Change the World Challenge Winners Announced at Homecoming
New sound technology for teaching math, emergency housing solutions, use of bar codes in canes to assist the blind, a signaling device to improve car safety, and an environmentally friendly mechanism for recycling old cars were among the winning ideas from students who participated in the first Change the World Challenge idea competition. President Jackson announced the five student winners – Casey O’Donnell, a doctoral student in science and technology studies; Joseph Choma, a second-year student in architecture; Brendan Kavanagh, a senior in mechanical engineering; Danika Patrick, a senior in mechanical engineering; and Cheuk Wa Yuen, a graduate student in architecture – during a ceremony at halftime of the Homecoming football game.

Additional support will be given annually in recognition of the “best of the best” ideas, including financial support to assist students in pursuing patents.

O’Sullivan’s gift is in support of the Institute’s $1 billion Renaissance at Rensselaer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Published September 19, 2005