Students Innovate Real-World Solutions Through Trojan Blitz

In just 24 hours, Taylor University students took on real-world problems and walked away with innovative solutions, cash prizes, and real-world experience. 

Hosted by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE), Trojan Blitz is a fast-paced and high-impact social innovation competition. Student teams were challenged to design and pitch a solution to a complex community problem within a single day. The event was open to all students and offered prize money, mentorship, and hands-on experience that equipped students to think differently and serve effectively. 

Redesigned and Reignited 

Trojan Blitz returned in Spring 2025 for its second semester with fresh design tweaks and a deeper focus on community engagement. As lead intern for the CIE, senior Communication major Briona Graham helped manage the event. 

“Trojan Blitz isn’t just about winning money,” Graham said. “It’s about realizing you have something valuable to contribute and learning to approach problems creatively.” 

The team redesigned the event to include 16 sealed scenario-based prompts. Each problem was focused on a broader, community-focused theme such as education, sustainability, and poverty. Teams randomly selected an envelope to discover their unique challenge. From there, the countdown began. 

One Day to Solve and Sell 

The competition launched on Friday, May 2, with a kickoff session and challenge reveal. Teams then had until Saturday at noon to research, develop, and refine their solutions. Finalists advanced to pitch their projects before a panel of guest judges from the local community. 

“It's a very short period of time for them to actually solve a problem and work in that high pressure environment,” Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dr. Mick Bates said. “It's designed to help students see that they can come up with good solutions in a very short amount of time.” 

Beyond the core pitch, students had the option to compete in a series of mini challenges that tested their creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills. Each completed challenge earned the teams additional points, which raised their final scores and their chance at winning prize money.  

A total of 17 students participated across eight teams. Top teams earned $750 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third. The team that scored the most challenge points received an additional $250. One standout group took home the ultimate prize of $1,000 by winning both the challenge competition and the final pitch. The winners of this were senior Finance major Brayden Gilbert and junior Management major Shane VanderZee. 

Entrepreneurship Beyond Business Majors 

One of the most unique aspects of Trojan Blitz is its accessibility. While housed in the CIE, the competition is open to all students, regardless of major. 

“There are endless directions this event can go,” Graham said. “But what excites me most is seeing students realize their potential and step into that space of innovation—not someday, but right now.” 

The theme of this Trojan Blitz was lightning, which was brainstormed by a team of interns including Lextin Willis, Joe Pawly, Tristan Hildebrand, Von Herring, and Deanna Grey. The team used various mediums to market the event including posters, digital slides, a video commercial, and word of mouth.  

“Entrepreneurship and innovation are for every person,” Graham said. “It's not a job, but it's a way of thinking.” 

The Future of Trojan Blitz 

With strong student participation and positive community feedback, the CIE plans to continue Trojan Blitz each semester. As the event evolves, the core mission remains to develop servant-leaders who are equipped to address real problems with bold, creative solutions. 

“The world needs servant-leaders who can think, who can listen, and who can act. Trojan Blitz cultivates all three,” Bates said.