Student Hawk Pitch

• Have questions about your pitch? Register to speak to the Innovation team on the first Wednesday of the month at noon (12 - 1 p.m.). To register, email: innovation@csmd.edu. 
• If you aren't able to meet at that time, send an email to: innovation@csmd.edu 

Competition Rules

• Eligibility: Only registered students are eligible to participate. 
• Submission Limit: Students are allowed to submit multiple pitches for consideration. 
• Award Limitation: Regardless of the number of submissions, each finalist is eligible to place only once among the top three positions (first, second, or third). If multiple pitches from the same finalist qualify for top rankings, only the highest-ranking pitch will be considered for award. 
• Judging Criteria: All submissions will be evaluated independently based on innovation, alignment with strategic plan, feasibility, impact, and presentation quality. 

Guidelines

• Both video pitch and worksheet are required for completed submission.
  • Record your video pitch (no more than 3 minutes). The accepted video formats are MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV.  Tik Tok videos are not eligible. 
  • Complete the I Have an Idea Worksheet where you also upload your video.
• Please, no profanity and no visual or audible distractions.
• Individuals or groups may participate—maximum group size 3.
• We encourage your team to attend an Info or coaching session.
• Include your name and year in your video.

• April 6-9 – Spring Festival week
• April 19, Midnight  – Hawk Pitch due
• April 20 – 23 – Judging
• April 23/24 – Meet with Judges
• April 27-30 – CSM Community Votes
• May 4-8 – Prepare SGA Banquet – finalize Dr. Wilson speech with first, second, and third place recipients.
• May 12 – SGA Banquet – Announce winners

• 1st place winner:
  • Idea funded
  • $500 cash from Education Federal Credit Systems
  • 3-credit scholarship, valued at $525 (if team of 3, all 3 would receive the scholarship from Help a Hawk scholarship fund). This may be applied to an existing account balance or future term at CSM.

• 2nd place winner:
  • $300 Cash
  • Dell Laptop

• 3rd place winner:
  • $200 Cash
  • CSM Swag Bag

• Your set-up should be in a well-lit area with the light source somewhere behind the recording device. If the light source is behind you, it will cause a silhouette effect.
• Use a tripod or set your mobile device on something steady.
• Record video on mobile device horizontally, not vertically.
• If possible, record video with a resolution of at least 1920 x 1080.
• Video editing (if necessary)—use apps like iMovie and CapCut.

CSM will work with the first-place winner to make sure their idea comes to fruition. 

• The College Innovation Work Group will identify the impacted departments and contact them prior to the voting period. 
• Funding for the project will come from the Innovation Fund.
• The first-place recipient is invited to participate on the planning team if their time allows, but they are in no way required to do so. 
• Funding will only be provided once and does not carry over to a new fiscal year.