Central State Seniors Win Tech on the Yard, Prepare to Take Their Vision National at Techsgiving

Three Central State University seniors are turning a campus challenge into a nationally recognized innovation. Ray Robinson, Jalen Martin and Isabella Winter Mitchell won the University’s Tech on the Yard pitch competition with their student engagement app, Get Active, and later earned top honors across the full HBCU tour. Their success has earned them an invitation to present at Techsgiving in Washington, D.C., in December where they will pitch their project to investors, entrepreneurs and professionals in the technology industry.

The team created Get Active in response to declining campus engagement and the lack of centralized communication about events and opportunities.

“Central State offers incredible opportunities, but many students don’t hear about them in time,” the team said during an interview. They wanted to solve that problem and help strengthen the campus community.

Identifying a Challenge on Campus

The idea for Get Active grew out of the students’ experiences during their time at Central State. They said campus flyers often go unnoticed, and social media algorithms make it difficult for important announcements to reach students reliably. As a result, students frequently miss campus opportunities and social gatherings.

“You stay at a school when you feel connected and at home,” they said. “When students don’t leave their rooms or build relationships, it affects their mental health and the university’s overall culture.”

From T-Shirts to Tech Innovation

The students originally entered a campus competition with a T-shirt design. After encouragement from Dr. Marvin Reid Jr., Department Chairperson of Business Administration and professor in the College of Business, they shifted their focus to a mobile app. The Get Active team described the first iteration of their pitch as more of a slideshow. However, after winning the initial round, they continued developing the idea through the summer.

As a result, what began as a basic concept has since evolved into a fully functional app designed to provide students with timely, organized information about campus events.

Growth Through Tech on the Yard

The Tech on the Yard competition, which included teams from multiple HBCUs, pushed the group to refine their strategy and communicate their vision more effectively.

“Tech on the Yard was truly the next level for us,” the team said. “The competition was harder, and expectations were higher, which helped us create a stronger product.”

Marauder excellence was in full force during the Tech on the Yard competition, as the second- and third-place winners also came from Central State University. Dylan Damiano and Ryan Lee received second-place honors for their creation, Road Rat. Third-place honors were awarded to Desirea Sweeting, Ebon Morris, Pharris Nicolls, Ephraim Osne, Alisha Kazola, Leoshana Johnson and Keith Brockman for their work on Roundtable.

The Get Active team said the Tech on the Yard experience helped them identify their strengths, work together more efficiently and develop a more unified pitch. Winning the competition across the entire HBCU tour confirmed the potential of their idea and opened the door to the national stage at Techsgiving.

Preparing for Techsgiving

The team will soon travel to Washington for the Techsgiving conference. They said they are excited about the exposure and career development opportunities the event provides.

“We’re looking forward to meeting entrepreneurs, investors and tech leaders who can help take Get Active to the next level,” they said. “As seniors, this conference is also a chance to build connections and mentorships that could shape our futures.”

Future Vision for the App

While winning competitions is significant, the students said their long-term goal is to launch the app at Central State and eventually expand its use to campuses across the country.

“We want to start at CSU with a campus license,” they said. “From there, we hope to expand regionally to Wilberforce and the University of Dayton and eventually grow into a national platform.”

They hope the app will help rebuild a strong sense of campus life by improving communication, increasing attendance at events and encouraging students to take advantage of opportunities that support academic and social success.

“College has changed, and engagement isn’t what it used to be,” one team member said. “Our dream is for Get Active to help bring life back to campuses and bridge the gap between students, faculty and staff.”

Features Designed to Support Students and Campuses

Get Active includes several features aimed at improving campus engagement:

• A campus-to-campus events view, Next Door, which allows students to see what is happening at neighboring schools.
• Real-time notifications for events, helping students manage their time and avoid missing out.
• An analytics dashboard for event organizers, allowing them to track views, attendance and overall engagement.

The team said these features create a system that benefits both students and campus organizations.

Central State Celebrates Their Achievement

Central State University officials said they are proud of Robinson, Martin and Mitchell for their leadership and innovation.

“Their work reflects the creativity, dedication and forward-thinking spirit of Central State,” university representatives said.

The team will represent the University at Techsgiving in Washington, D.C., this December so stay tuned for updates!