Over 500 Students Energized by Spring 2025 HBCU Innovation Power Hours Tour Across Alabama
The Spring 2025 edition of the HBCU Innovation Power Hours wrapped up with incredible energy, fresh ideas, and over 500 bright minds ready to shape the future of tech and entrepreneurship. Hosted by The Alabama Collective, this high-energy, hands-on tour ignited creativity and innovation at six Alabama HBCUs and community colleges throughout the month of March: Drake State Community & Technical College, Oakwood University, Stillman College, Trenholm State Community College, Talladega College, and Lawson State Community College.
Billed as “the ultimate spring innovation experience,” the Power Hours brought together students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders for two hours of immersive learning and interactive fun. With challenges in AI, design thinking, and business innovation, students engaged in real-world problem solving while grooving to live music, enjoying good food, and walking away with swag and prizes.
“We created Innovation Power Hours to be more than just an event—it’s a movement,” said Charisse Stokes, Executive Director of The Alabama Collective. “We’re building the next generation of creators, technologists, and entrepreneurs by giving them the tools, exposure, and confidence they need to lead. Alabama’s HBCUs are filled with talent, and we’re honored to help unlock that potential.”
Power-Packed Stops Across the State
Each campus stop featured two signature Innovation Challenges:
- Ideation Innovation Challenge – Students leveraged artificial intelligence tools and prompt engineering to pitch bold new ideas with guidance from expert mentors for a chance to win prizes.
- Innovation Design Challenge: Design Your School of the Future – Students used design thinking and the app development platform Glide to build innovative mobile apps that reimagined the future.
These challenges gave students the opportunity to turn their ideas into tangible solutions using accessible technology, sparking creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.
Campus Leaders Weigh In
- “We are empowering students with hands-on experiences that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship,” said Andrew Robertson, Dean of Career Services at Stillman College.
- “This experience helps students develop the entrepreneurial mindset and real-world tech skills that employers are seeking,” added Theresa Mays, Vice President of Student Affairs and Information Services at Trenholm State Community College.
- From Huntsville to Tuscaloosa, the momentum from the Innovation Power Hours continues to ripple throughout campuses, sparking interest in tech careers and student entrepreneurship. With food, fun, and future-focused learning, students described the events as “eye-opening,” “exciting,” and “a true look into what’s possible.”
