CSM Announces Hawk Pitch Winners for Campus Engagement Initiatives

Students at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) are helping shape the future of campus life through Hawk Pitch, a creative competition for students to turn new ideas into campus projects.

Hawk Pitch challenges students to submit a video describing what their idea is, how the initiative could be implemented on campus, and its purpose to enhance student engagement and campus life. In May, the winners were recognized for their innovative solutions to advance the college’s strategic goals of access, momentum, and mobility.

This spring, five submissions were evaluated by the College Innovation Alliance (C.I.A.), a group of faculty and staff working to encourage, grow, collaborate, and positively impact CSM through innovation. The group sponsors and leads the implementation of the first-place proposal on campus.

CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson said, “This competition gives students the opportunity to share bold ideas that strengthen CSM, enhance the student experience, and help shape the future of the college. The C.I.A. is working together to build a culture of innovation at CSM, fostering collaboration and partnerships to advance ideas that align with our strategic goals.”

First place was awarded to Natalie VanDevander for the Nesting Nook, a dedicated space on campus where students can rest and recharge.

In her video, VanDevander spoke about the critical need for appropriate rest to succeed in the classroom.

“Long classes, coursework, studying for exams, and having a part-time job caused me to feel fatigued and have a reduced level of concentration at school,” VanDevander said. “Having a safe, comfortable environment for students to be able to rest, reset, and focus in between classes aligns with CSM’s goal of increasing student belonging and momentum.”

As the winner, VanDevander received a $525 CSM Foundation scholarship and a new Lenovo laptop, and will see the Nesting Nook take shape on campus.

Lila Haines was awarded second place for the Hawk Cast, a student- and faculty-led podcast. Students share tips on how to get involved in campus activities while faculty share advice on how to turn their new degrees into careers.

“CSM already has a lot of great resources and advisors, but sometimes students can be afraid of speaking with someone they’ve never met before, and we don’t want to spend a bunch of time looking around online for resources,” Haines said. “Sometimes we just need a little more help.”

Haines received a $525 CSM Foundation scholarship and a CSM swag bag.

Timothy Martinez won third place for proposing CROO, the CSM Research Outreach Organization which aims to connect CSM students to research opportunities both on campus and beyond.

As an engineering student, Martinez said CROO targets two barriers he discovered when pursuing research work: finding available positions and navigating the application process.

“Students who wish to apply for these opportunities might feel lost or intimidated by the application process,” Martinez said. “What if there was a way to, not only encourage students to apply for these opportunities, but also equip them with the skillset needed to give them an advantage in the application process.”

Martinez received a $300 CSM Foundation scholarship and a CSM T-shirt.

Hawk Pitch submissions are accepted in the fall and spring semesters. Videos produced by previous winners are available on the Hawk Pitch website.