Students earn prizes for innovative ideas

Maggie Bowmar has worked as a water safety professional for seven years, including as a lifeguard and a swimming coach. So when it came time for Bowmar and class partner Haley Smith to come up with a project for a University of North Georgia (UNG) entrepreneurship course with Dr. Mariangela Vecchiarini-Piazza in the fall, Bowmar quickly zeroed in on an idea.

Bowmar and Smith teamed up to create the concept for Lifebandz, an innovation meant to help prevent child drownings by alerting parents and other people around children within seconds of the danger escalating.

Another entrepreneurial inspiration came when Aliou Aboubakar Mouhamed was frustrated by the repetitive nature of job applications and created Zapp, an app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to tailor resumes to job postings and allows users to apply for jobs in seconds rather than 20 minutes or more.

These innovations earned top honors when 10 student groups or individuals shared their business ideas at the innovateUNG Pitch Challenge held March 2 in the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation at UNG's Dahlonega Campus. The UNG event included undergraduate and graduate students, as well as fall graduates.

Bowmar and Smith earned the $5,000 first prize, while Aboubakar Mouhamed took home the $3,000 second prize. Aboubakar Mouhamed advances to the inaugural University System of Georgia (USG) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition set for April 6-7 at Kennesaw State University's Marietta Campus, as Smith graduated in the fall and the USG competition requires teams or individuals to be current students.

Bowmar, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with focus areas in business and social sciences, said receiving feedback at the UNG competition affirmed the potential of the Lifebandz idea.

"This could make an impact if we wanted to pursue it," Bowmar said.

Smith, a Cumming, Georgia, resident who earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies with focus areas in business and social sciences, pointed to Vecchiarini-Piazza's mentorship as pivotal for her and Bowmar.

"Dr. V was so personable and always took the time to sit with each student. She would really help us develop our product," Smith said. "I really felt seen as a student. Her confidence in us gave me a lot of confidence."

Aboubakar Mouhamed similarly expressed gratitude to Dr. Denise McWilliams, assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Tamirat Abegaz, professor of computer science, for seeing the potential in him.

"They value the students they're working with," said Aboubakar Mouhamed, who is pursuing a Master of Science in computer science after earning a bachelor's degree in computer science in the fall. "They want to push you to succeed outside of the classroom."

The other prize winners, as selected by business professionals who served as judges, were:

• Venture Progress Award ($2,000): Billy Brown for TapX, an AI-powered talent acquisition platform that is building an ecosystem within campus recruiting. The recruiting infrastructure modernizes how students and employers connect at career fairs and networking events.
• Community Impact Award ($2,000): Hadyn Stewart for Freedom Found, a nonprofit that would help ensure rescued trafficking victims receive the full care they need.

Stewart, a senior from Clermont, Georgia, pursuing a degree in marketing, serves as president of the Students Against Trafficking club. The positive response she received only further encouraged her to pursue Freedom Found.

"It's something I'm passionate about, and after the pitch competition, I feel like I could really make a difference in something that matters to me," Stewart said.

In addition to their entrepreneurial ideas, both Bowmar and Stewart have their sights set on serving their communities as they launch their careers. Bowmar aims to open a nonprofit swim school for underprivileged kids, and Stewart plans to work in marketing for a foster care agency.

"UNG has done so much for me. It really opened my eyes to ideas to things I did not think were possible for me," Bowmar said. "They've helped me find a path that works for me and what I want to achieve in the future."

Aboubakar Mouhamed works as a software developer for Associated Credit Union, and Smith plans to work in human resources or marketing.

Brown, a senior from Woodstock, Georgia, pursuing a degree in marketing, was grateful to share more about his innovation after taking first place in 2025.

"It was an amazing opportunity. The judges asked great questions and gave helpful feedback," Brown said. "This prepares me for my career in ways nothing else can. Standing on a stage presenting an idea you formed, it's hard. It's an uncomfortable feeling, but it's worth it in the end."

Vecchiarini-Piazza, an associate professor of entrepreneurship in the Mike Cottrell College of Business, said the students' presentations were invigorating.

"The quality of the work was extraordinary, with students coming in not just with ideas, but with prototypes, early users and a real commitment to building something meaningful. The level of preparation, creativity and drive we saw on stage was truly inspiring," Vecchiarini-Piazza said. "That energy is contagious, and it’s exactly why experiences like this matter so much. InnovateUNG gives students and young founders the opportunity to test their ideas, receive thoughtful feedback from experienced judges, and connect with a broader entrepreneurial community that supports them as they continue developing their ventures."