What participants say:

“Through the whole process, I actually began to see my design turn into a prototype, and now my prototype might actually become a patented reality. By the end, I was so happy that I had chosen to take a chance on myself and do something that brought my engineering and hooping life together.”

—Danielle McIntosh

“I thought of this product two years ago—I wrote it down and kind of forgot about it for awhile. And I realized that if I didn’t do it, I’d always regret it, so I just decided to pursue it. The competition is a great outlet for anyone interested in innovation and development. The experience gives you the tools to develop the idea and the confidence to continue.”

—Daniel Gartenberg

Innovators in the news

The Schoofs Prize for Creativity

Judges for the 2009 Competition

• Emeritus Professor and retired Dean JOHN BOLLINGER led the college as dean from 1981 to 1999. During his tenure, the college experienced tremendous growth in research funding and the establishment of research consortia. Student activities also grew during his deanship: in fact, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Schoofs and Tong Prize competitions. Other student competitions begun during his deanship include the Steuber Prize for Writing, the G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition and the Future Car/Future Truck. He was also instrumental in planning and securing the physical growth of the college, including additions to several buildings and the new Engineering Centers Building. Bollinger is in demand across the country as a lecturer and teacher in the area of engineering entrepreneurship and has served on the board of directors of numerous companies.
• HARRY ENGSTROM is a retired partner in the Foley & Lardner LLP Madison office. He was in practice for more than 30 years, counseling and litigating primarily in the areas of patents, trademarks, copyright, unfair competition, trade secrets, and the licensing and transfer of technology. Engstrom earned a BS and MS in electrical and computer engineering at UW-Madison and his JD, cum laude, in 1974. His patent practice was concentrated in electronics, physics and mechanical technologies. He has been a frequent lecturer on patent law for the University of Wisconsin Extension and other organizations and is listed in the intellectual property law section of Best Lawyers in America.®
• JIM FRATER is president and partner in Bjorksten/Bit7, a strategic product development firm with offices in Madison and Mundelein, Illinois. One of the fastest growing companies in Dane County, Bjorksten partners with clients on all aspects of product direction — from early management decisions and innovation through full implementation and verification testing. Typical services include strategic mapping and gap analysis, user and science research, product design and engineering (mechanical, electrical and software), chemistry and process development, working prototypes and customized testing (www.bjorksten.com). Frater has experience in manufacturing, product and packaging design, marketing, entrepreneurial and turn-around situations, and executive management for established corporations such as Menasha Corporation, MicroQwik, Design Concepts and Placon Corp. Frater received his BSME from Marquette University and taught product design while working on graduate degrees in busi ness and engineering. He served as president of the Carded Packaging Institute for two years, is a registered professional engineer, and holds numerous patents.
• CHAD SORENSON is the president and a co-founder of Sologear, a Madison-based consumer products innovator and manufacturer that is marketing the FlameDisk, a new replacement for charcoal that burns a unique ethanol-based fuel. The product is being nationally distributed in 2009. Previously, Sorenson founded and managed an agricultural technology company, Fluent Systems, which was based on an invention he conceived while a student at UW-Madison. The device allowed farmers to remotely monitor the fluid level and application rate of anhydrous ammonia, a common nitrogen fertilizer. Sorenson’s invention won first place in the 2000 Schoofs Prize for Creativity, first place in the 2001 Tong Prototype Prize competition, second place in the G. Steven Burrill Technology Business Plan Competition, and awards at international business plan competitions. Fluent was sold to Raven Industries, a public corporation in South Dakota, in December 2003 for about $1.3 million in cash.