The Adrian College Creativity Award Contest encourages students to think outside of the box and invent ideas on how to improve our college campus. Sponsored by the Institute for Innovation and Creativity, the college is willing to put forth $10,000 to bring the winner’s idea to life. Whether it may be adding something completely new on campus, or updating something already here, this award is an amazing way to ensure that students, staff, and faculties voices are all heard in how to better our campus.
With over 150 applicants per year, this competitive contest gets participants’ gears turning on how to make Adrian College better than ever. Of 150 applicants, each year we end up with around 8 finalists, who will all receive a $50 gift card to the Arrington Bookstore. Not only will the winner’s idea be brought to life, but the winning person or group also receives $1,000 to keep, on top of the $10,000 from the college dedicated to the execution of the idea itself.
This contest has been around for a little over a decade, and its impact has made our campus better than ever! Here is a list of some of the past winners and what they have come up with to make Adrian the college it is today.
2024 – Emma Pelletier: The Amazon Hub located in Caine Student Center
2023 – Cheyenne Muse: Major and minor-specific shirts available to all students
2022 – Professor Oded Gur-Arie: The book-painted stairs located in Mahan
2019 – Professor Martin: Shepherd’s Crook with Ribbons of Excellence
2018 – Tyler Roushia: The Slide to Success located in Caine Student Center
2017 – Andrea Burt: The Legacy Tree honoring legacy students at Adrian
2016 – Jordan York and Cassandra Rigney: The donation bulldog in Caine
2015 – Gabriella Murashova: Globe of the World located in the Dawson Auditorium lobby
2013 – Amara Karapas: Ribbons of Excellence mosaic outside of Caine Student Center
2012 – Dr. Scott Elliott: The Bruiser Cruisers
Looking at this list really makes us realize the impact that this not-so-small award contest has on our college community as a whole. Some of these ideas have become fundamental in our everyday lives. Once all of the ideas for this contest have been submitted, a committee including President Docking, the Dean of Students, and several professors gather to select a winner. The winner of this contest is always presented at the Adrian State of the College Address in the springtime of the end of the school year.
So all in all, this contest lies unbeknownst to many students here at Adrian College, but it contains the opportunity to enhance our college more and more every single year. And the best part of all is that anyone can submit an idea! Whether you are a student, staff member, or faculty, this contest is open to anyone and everyone. This year the contest closes on March 14, 2025, so make sure to start brainstorming ideas for your way to leave your lasting impact on Adrian College.
