Wilson Center Programs

Immersive Experiences to Strengthen Your Skills

The Wilson Center organizes and sponsors a variety of marquee programs intended to inspire students and develop their knowledge and skills in leadership and innovation. Many of these programs have been started and led by students, serving as a means to practice and refine innovation and leadership skills. Wilson seeks to encourage innovation and leadership in a broad range of contexts by organizing programs that include a community-collaborative social entrepreneurship program, our own TEDx event, a speaker series, leadership workshops, and innovation and pitch competitions.

A man at podium to introduce a guest speaker, with intro slide in background.

LIFE Series

Leadership & Innovation For Everyone

Workshops and talks by successful leaders and innovators are offered to teach practical skills. Discover your own aptitude and be ready to embrace challenges.

Team of students with their big check prize, with event judge and host

Pioneer Weekend

Entrepreneurial Innovation & Pitch Challenge

Pioneer Weekend is a three-day innovation and pitch competition for teams. The objective of Pioneer Weekend is to bring together student innovators to develop and pitch a business or nonprofit plan. It encourages hands-on experiences, helps develop skills critical to entrepreneurship, and provides valuable feedback to your entrepreneurial endeavors.

Four students with a flowchart slide during presentation to a panel of event judges.

Innovate GC Challenge

Social Justice Innovation & Pitch Challenge

A week-long competition where teams innovate products that can help alleviate social justice issues.

Catalyst

Idea Incubator and Fund

The Wilson Center Catalyst offers dedicated open hours each week in the form of a creative thinktank staffed by student mentors with a network of ��Ƶ alumni, experienced entrepreneurs, and industry professionals. The Catalyst is designed to nurture, develop, and transform the innovative ideas of the campus community into tangible projects or startups.

Students wearing safety gear use the drill press in the woodshop.

Stew Makerspace

Learning through design and fabrication

The Stew Makerspace is a space with a diverse set of tools that enable individuals and groups to exercise their creativity, practice a craft, or prototype a product. It is run as a collaboration between the College and the ��Ƶ Area Arts Center. Basic membership is free for students (paid by the Wilson Center). Curious? Stop by 927 Broad St. for a free tour!

Learn more about the makerspace

slideshow with photos in background, an instructor introduces a guest speaker.

Learning from Alumni

Alumni talk about their life and career journeys

Learning from Alumni is both a course for students and a series of talks open to the community on Friday afternoons. Alumni talk about their life (at ��Ƶ and after) and career trajectory. It is offered most semesters. Guest talks will be promoted on the College Calendar.

TEDx ��Ƶ College

(2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023).

TEDx��ƵCollege was an independently organized event that brought people together to share a TED-like experience.

Student participants of SPARK program with Ramsey Weeks Truck

Spark Challenge

Community-Based Social Innovation Challenge

Last offered in Spring 2025, the SPARK community-based social innovation challenge offered ��Ƶ organizations and students the opportunity to work together to address poverty-related challenges faced by the larger ��Ƶ community. The SPARK short course provided a series of workshops to help students build their skills in researching and effectively presenting solutions to social problems.

Storytelling Workshop

Telling and listening to stories will always be important to humankind. The Moth Radio Hour student storytelling workshop and slam guided students through developing and telling a personal story.

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