Winners announced for Saint Leo’s ‘What Matters on Mane Street’
Saint Leo’s inaugural social impact competition, What Matters on Mane Street, wrapped up on Thursday, June 2, with the announcement of the contest’s winners.
With lead funding by The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation and the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, the competition was open to Saint Leo students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Participants were asked to create innovative ideas and solutions that have powerful potential for social, environmental, or economic impact. Faculty and staff also could propose or submit existing university programs and courses that are addressing challenges, locally or globally.
More than 50 participants entered, and 16 winners were announced during the Zoom presentation. Third-place winners will receive $250; second-place winners will receive $500; and first-place winners will receive $1,000. Faculty and staff members’ programs will receive the funding. Awards also included a professional recording session with Bake More Pies marketing, a “Sprinternship” from Basil Data, custom T-shirts from Champa Bay Sports, and a special announcement about all of the winners by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
The winners of What Matters on Mane Street, Saint Leo University’s social impact competition are:
A Post (social media post) That Matters
Presenting judge: Lynn Kroesen, manager of Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, Hillsborough County
First place: Kendall M. Britt (alumna), gun safety
Second place: Lok Yu Tsang (student), Lions Make Some Changes! Bring your own cup and save our planet today
Third place: Natalie Rodriguez (student), Help Ukraine: Donate Insulin Today!
An Idea That Matters
Presenting judge: Jeff Montanez-Jones, founder and CEO of Basil Data
First place: Grayson DeVito (student), Mobile Showers for Pasco County: Let’s Shower Hope for the Homeless
Second place: KareLin S. Ellis (student), Restorative justice through prison reforms, diversion programming, and re-entry initiatives
Third place: Bradley Eidenmueller and Maria Soler Valverde (students), Reducing plastic and food waste in the Dining Hall in partnership with local organizations
A Solution That Matters
Presenting judge: Tammy Charles, founder and CEO of Inovo Strategic Consulting
First place: Julia Sharp, Mary Martinez Drovie, and Maria Dacosta (alumni), Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas promotes healthy pregnancies, babies, and families through an innovative doula care program
Second place: Anthony Santa (alumnus), Surprise Sign Project: Surprise birthday deliveries for children who have physical or emotional hardships
Third place: Hope Michelle Holman (alumna), Hope4myteen: Training tools for parents to support teen driving
A Program That Matters
Presenting judge: Sammy Ortiz, founder of Young Entrepreneurial Students
First place: Maria Santos (student and staff), Dr. Ebony Perez (faculty), Sevana Gunn (student), and Megan Rowe (student), Leo’s Market provides affordable, fresh produce to Saint Leo and the surrounding community
Second place: Tamarra A. James (alumna), Hey-U: Helping Elevate Youth with Unity, helping students who age out of foster care
Third place: Dr. Michael Bailey (staff), Autism Connect: Providing enhanced services to college students with ASD (Autism spectrum disorder)
A Class That Matters
Presenting judge: Steve McDavid, president of Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation
First place: Dr. Helen MacLennan and Dr. Kelly Atkins (faculty), Good Business: Social Impact through Entrepreneurship
Second place: Dr. Nancy Wood and Dr. Susan Kinsella (faculty), Human Services Administration and Social Entrepreneurship
Third place: Dr. Rhonda Waddell (faculty), Exploring Systematic Innovation in Higher Education through Photovoice
Special Alumni Recognition
Presenting judge: Iskra Sbraccia, Class of 2005 and 2009, Saint Leo University Alumni Association president and member of the Board of Trustees, compliance sanctions director, global head of content management of Citi
Winner: Mariana Navarrete Villegas (Class of 2022), Mitigating Food Waste: Why Should We Care?
Questions about Saint Leo University’s various social impact programs can be sent to the Community Engagement & Innovation team at cei@saintleo.edu or directly to Mehak Arora at mehak.arora@saintleo.edu. Arora is a graduate assistant for the CEI team who is earning her Master of Business Administration degree, and has played a lead role in the implementing What Matters on Mane Street. A recording of the social impact competition awards program can be viewed here.
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