What Matters on Mane Street
Social impact is driven by people who are innovative thinkers and doers. Social entrepreneurs and community movers and shakers of all sorts know that using the same old responses to address the same old societal problems will yield the same old results. It’s time to move the needle.
Saint Leo University’s new social impact competition is a challenge to students, alumni, and employees to create innovative ideas and solutions that have powerful potential for social, environmental, or economic impact.
Whether you have a new idea or have already implemented one, What Matters on Mane Street is a competition for all members of the Saint Leo University community who want to make a positive social impact. As a contestant, you have a chance to learn more about the issues you care about most, receive recognition and support for your efforts, and win some cool prizes!
Entries must be submitted by Friday, May 20, 2022. It’s easy to enter – team entries and multiple entries by individuals are encouraged! Competition finalists will be announced in May, 2022
“Solving our communities’ stickiest challenges and addressing the world’s wicked problems takes innovation, intellect, and commitment. This competition is a call to action for members of our university to demonstrate how they lead with their values and inventive thinking to strengthen local and global communities. Together, we are putting a spotlight on who we are at Saint Leo and the distinctive ways we strive to make a difference.”
– Dr. Mark Gesner, Vice President of Community Engagement and Innovation
How to Compete
What Matters on Mane Street is a competition set up with unique categories for students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Identify a challenge or problem, tell us your ideas on how to solve it, and how it can make a social, environmental, or economic impact.
Step 1: Select your category.
- A POST that matters – create a social post about a community problem or challenge that you care about and inspire others to help you make a difference. Creativity counts!
- An IDEA that matters – utilize thoughtful and innovative video content to make an inspiring case for an idea that can solve a local or global issue that you care about. Ideal for social entrepreneurs-in-the-making!
- A SOLUTION that matters – Develop a compelling video that showcases your solution and its value proposition to a community challenge or problem that is already being addressed by you, your business, or organization. Perfect for alumni!
A PROGRAM that matters – highlight one of your university programs or design a new one that can address a community challenge. Articulate your program design and its distinct approach to making a positive social impact.
A CLASS that matters – highlight an existing class lesson or course curriculum, or develop a new one, that offers a compelling way to address a community or global issue. Provide an overview of the lesson or course design and its unique approach to creating positive social impact.
Step 2: Decide what matters to you.
- Identify a community challenge or problem that you care about.
- Make a case for why it matters and how you can make a difference.
- Create an inspiring call to action to address the issue or solve the problem.
Step 3: Submit your entry, based on the following category requirements:
- A POST that matters – create one social post on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram and tag Saint Leo University.
- An IDEA that matters – create a three-minute “pitch” video with a phone or any hand-held device and include the university logo or the name Saint Leo University in the video.
- A SOLUTION that matters – create a three-minute “pitch” video with a phone or any hand-held device and include the university logo or the name Saint Leo University in the video.
- A PROGRAM that matters – create a three-minute “pitch” video or one-page proposal. The video can be created with a phone or any hand-held device and include the university logo or the name Saint Leo University in the video.
- A CLASS that matters – create a three-minute “pitch” video or three-page proposal that includes an overview, approach, and learning outcomes. The video can be created with a phone or any hand-held device and include the university logo or the name Saint Leo University in the video.
How to Enter
To enter the competition, click the “SUBMIT ENTRY” button or email cei@saintleo.edu by Friday, May 20, 2022. Include your name, phone, email, and link to your social post or “pitch” video.
Prizes
- Cash and prizes valued at over $10,000
- A terrific trophy
- Awesome Saint Leo Swag
- Cool stuff from sponsors
- Fame!
The number of finalists for each category may vary.
How to Win
What will a winning social post include?
- Compelling and innovative content and design.
- Alignment with Saint Leo University’s mission and core values.
- Powerful potential for social, environmental, or economic impact.
What will a winning pitch include?
- Thoughtful and innovative content.
- A clear presentation that clarifies a local or global issue and a compelling idea about how to solve it (or how you, your organization, business, program, or course lesson plan is already addressing the problem).
- Alignment with Saint Leo University’s mission and core values.
- Powerful potential for social, environmental, or economic impact.
Competition Eligibility
- Saint Leo students enrolled either full-time or part-time in degree programs are eligible to compete in the POST, IDEA, AND SOLUTION categories.
- Saint Leo alumni are eligible to compete in the POST, IDEA, AND SOLUTION categories.
- University full and part-time staff are eligible to compete in the PROGRAM category.
- University full-time and adjunct faculty are eligible to compete in the CLASS category.
- Individual and team entries are welcomed.
Submit your entry by Friday, May 20, 2022. Apply early and submit multiple entries!
Competition finalists will be announced in May, 2022.
For more information or questions, please contact Mehak Arora, Community Engagement and Innovation, at mehak.arora@saintleo.edu