DU students win venture capital funding A pair of Davenport University students have earned $25,000 in venture capital funding to get their new business off to a flying start. Tyler Essenberg and Calvin Beeke created G-RAPS, a new accessory that helps individuals personalize their eyewear with the logo of a favorite sports team, cause or brand. The product, a patent-pending, flexible, silicone band that wraps around any eyewear frame, is entirely Michigan-made. Taking their product and business idea to the Start Garden competition, Essenberg and Beeke first earned $5,000 in funding in October 2012, based on a public vote. In December, the team provided an update on their business plan and earned an additional $20,000 in funding. The duo ultimately has the opportunity to receive up to $500,000 in funding plus guidance from the Start Garden team. Essenberg and Beeke hope to create additional Michigan jobs and promote social responsibility through their business. The first G-RAPS they brought to market, for instance, promoted breast cancer awareness. Created by Rick DeVos, who also founded ArtPrize, Start Garden is a $15,000,000 seed fund that rewards winning business ideas incrementally. Two submissions made at startgarden.com are selected each week to receive $5,000; one is selected by the Start Garden team, the other earns the investment through public voting. The second round of funding is earned after completion of an experiment that demonstrates the idea is desirable, feasible and viable.
Above: Calvin Beeke and Tyler Essenberg show off their G-RAPS invention.
Students earn Heart and Soul Awards for community service Twelve Davenport University students were awarded the Michigan Campus Compact (MiCC) Award at the 17th annual Outstanding Student Service Awards Celebration held in April at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich. In recognition of their time, effort and personal commitment to their communities through service, Scott DeGraaf, Nathan Fortier, Janelle Fryling, Ben Henig, Daniel Hume, Leslie Ley, Elizabeth Overbeek, Valerie Starrett, Brett Sutherland, Michel Thomas, Kiandra Williams and Kelli Wyse received the Heart and Soul Award. MiCC is a coalition of colleges and universities committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. MiCC promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be civically engaged citizens by creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service learning and civic engagement. Each year, MiCC awards students one of three awards: the Outstanding Community Impact Award, the Commitment to Service Award and the Heart and Soul Award. This year, more than 450 students from 33 member institutions received awards.
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