Beginning in 2012, twenty students will participate in a new and unparalleled transformative innovation experience on BYU’s campus.
In a joint effort of colleges across campus, the Crocker Innovation Fellows program was created to focus on training entrepreneurs from a variety of disciplines. Under the new program, fellows will receive a 4,500 dollar stipend to spend a year learning about practices of innovation. The program is offered to students from any major.
“The purpose of the program is to find top students and faculty from across campus and attract them into a multi-disciplinary environment to provide a first class education in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” says Stephen Liddle, academic director for the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. “This program puts them on an accelerated path toward a high-impact career as they go out and change the world.”
Beginning winter semester, Crocker fellows will learn innovation practices, complete an internship with an innovative company, and develop their own innovations.
The classes are taught by faculty from the colleges of business, engineering, life sciences, and physical and mathematical sciences, as well as the law school to encourage interdisciplinary innovations. Program faculty consist of BYU professors Nathan Furr, business; Marc Hansen, life sciences; Christopher Mattson, engineering; Dan Olsen, physical and math sciences; and Gordon Smith, law.
“Good entrepreneurship is inherently multi-disciplinary, and we’ve learned that there’s a lot of potential talent we can harness outside the Marriott School,” Liddle says. “We’re hoping to pull that talent together through this new initiative.”
Students interested in participating can submit an application online. Preference is given to students entering their junior year who can commit to one calendar year.
Furr, who is heading the program, says it is meant to attract “highly motivated students with an interest in innovation, a capacity to think creatively, and a desire to change the world.”
Students selected for the 2012 program are Paul Ballieu, Steven Branham, Jacob Colvin, Jason Dearden, Salvael Estrada, Daniel Falabella, Wyatt Felt, Anna Hawes, Khanh Le, Kevin Lindquist, Joshua Lloyd, Daniel Marsh, Benjamin Nielsen, Michael Nielsen, Adam Rogers, Brett Rowberry, Kendall Thacker, Sam Wood, Kurt Workman, and Jason Zippro.
The Crocker Innovation Fellows program was founded in 2011and funded by Gary and Ann Crocker, supporters of innovation and entrepreneurship in their communities and around the nation. Crocker’s 35 year career includes work in various branches of the life sciences industry developing breakthrough medical devices, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals. Throughout his career, Crocker has demonstrated a life-long commitment to improving the world around him.
For more information about the program and to meet the inaugural class, visit www.crockerinnovationfellows.com.