Recent Program Features
We are proud to celebrate the success of our faculty, students and programs. We welcome you to learn more about our college through reading our recent features!
2015 Finalists
Mankato Pediatric Respite - Katie McDonald and Megan Chase
Majors: Nursing
TeleTox, Inc. - Fuad Gazal, Cynthia Ovadje, Emmanuel Adeyemi
Majors: Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Math, and Environmental Science Majors
VikasEd - Christina Tchatchouang, Ebrothie Charles Thiemele
Majors: Counseling & Student Personnel and International Business Majors
Gym Life - Anthony Ulrich and John Engelhart
Majors: Finance and Computer Science
911 Emergency Help - Mohammed Shahid
Major: Marketing
2016 Finalists
Dream Closet - Kylen Felts
Major: Marketing
Where are they now
Dream Closet is an active student charitable organization on the campuses of Minnesota State University, Mankato and Winona State University.
HomeFresh Personal Chef Services - Hannah Thompson
Major: Dietetics
Where are they now
Winner of the People's Choice in 2016, Hannah continues as a personal chef and active businesswoman. She was featured on the cover of River Valley Woman magazine in 2018.
Iron Range Maker Space - Andrew Hangemon
Major: Engineering
Where are they now
Winner Iron Range Maker Space has an 11,000 square foot facility operating in Hibbing, MN.
Northwood Industries - Kody Henning
Majors: Accounting and Finance
SeaJay Enterprises/ ourKINection.com - Charles Jennings
Major: Finance
Where are they now
Charles works as a programmer for Fun.com and continues to develop ourKINection.com in his spare time.
2017 Finalists (H5)
Hub:
Lauren Kramer, Katie Lloyd, Anthony Rathammer, Caleb Johnson and Ryan Hoehn
Where are they now? The Hub was built and opened by Dain Fisher in April, 2018 next to the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship based on the work done by this student team. Based on the team’s recommendations, it was opened as a Food Truck court and park.
Messy Dog:
Alex Oldenburg
Where are they now? Messy Dog operated as a dog training and grooming business in Old Town in Mankato in 2018 and 2019. As of fall of 2020, she is operating Messy Dog full-time in Cedar Falls, IA. Learn more
Primate Longboards:
Jackson Jones
Winner of Best Plan and People’s Choice by Primate Longboards
Where are they now? Primate Longboards was sold and Jackson continues to create with wood. His current business, Fingrprint, produces custom signs and other commercial products. Wooden Spoon, a Mankato bakery, and UNRL, a clothing company founded by a Minnesota State University Mankato student, are both clients.
Webytor:
Shahari Chowdhury and Connor Martin
Where are they now? Webytor provides website services to businesses in Mankato, MN and Bangladesh. The Hub food truck park and Mogwai Collaborative use their services. They are housed in the Hubbard Office Building.
ProtoTec Solutions:
John Ruprecht
Where are they now? Prototech rebranded as Cubic 3D in 2018. They sell 3d printer filament, lease and service 3d printers to local companies and also do production and prototyping 3d printing. They are housed in the Mogwai Collaborative within the Hubbard Office Building.
John joined the faculty of the Engineering Dept at Minnesota State University, Mankato teaching Parametric Modeling, Statics and Project and Value Management.
