UCSI seniors make it their business to help others

Utica Community Schools seniors demonstrated how they mean business when it comes to creating products that will make a difference in the lives of others.

Nearly 80 students from the nationally-recognized Utica Center for Science and Industry held a simulated trade show to market products designed to service a community member in need.

Products that help those with disabilities put on shoes, walkers that are easy to use on stairs or alerts that are activitated when dogs growl were on display for potential investors - i.e. parents, staff and community members - who were asked to rate the products.

The trade show challenged UCSI students to draw on what they learned in class to create, build and market a product.

“It has helped us learn the process for developing our project,” said UCSI senior Bianca Santi. “We had to think about the steps that we would have to go through and who would would need to talk to before we started.”

Santi worked on a team that created a walker that used rollersto navigate the transition between stairs.

Before creating the project, students were challenged by their teachers to talk to members of their community about challenges they encounter in their everyday lives.

Senior Adam McNeil said the interviews showed them a fundamental principle of marketing.

“You can’t come up with an idea before you hear what people need,” he said.

The final projects involved students bringing together the different career pathways at CSI.

For instance, the team working on the stairway walker used engineering principles to design an actual prototype and 3D designs. The group also created multi-media presentations and collatoral marketing materials to promote the product.

“It gave us a broad idea of the type of people who need to be involved,” said Steven Dueby.