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NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS
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Think 
differently

Problems to Possibilities (P2P) is a program that challenges students to think differently about entrepreneurship and change-making. 

Hosted by North Dakota State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business, P2P leverages systems-thinking and local networks to drive social, environmental, and economic progress.
Probe a problem.
Map its system.
Pitch your solution.
The P2P program has been redesigned as a fall semester experience leading up to a pitch event held on December 8th.

Through a series of workshops, teams of 2-3 students (or individually) will select a problem, then identify events, trends, structures and mental models that impact the issue. This will culminate in the creation of a visual map and poster presentation that shows the relationships between these variables.

Posters will be designed and presented at the NDSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business “Possibilities Pitch Event” on December 8th where students will share their passion and compete for prize money!

How it's different 
By grappling with the systemic forces that often stifle progress, P2P takes a learning-first approach to change-making.

Participants will consider the broader context of their selected social, environmental, and economic problems. They will learn about existing solutions before developing something new, ensuring that their solution is viable, valuable, and unique.

Why it matters
Students will learn transferable critical thinking skills and an opportunity to create positive change while Community Partners will get a deep analysis and fresh perspective into the challenges they work tirelessly to address.
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How it works

1st Place

Awarded the P2P Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship! 
 

Each team member will receive a $2,500 scholarship for the spring semester and will join the Possibility Fellowship to develop their social enterprise with the chance to advance to a national competition sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship.

2nd Place

Awarded and split between team members: $2,100​

3rd Place

Awarded and split between team members: $1,200

Additional Prizes

Awarded and split between team members:

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Poster board winner: $600

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Excellence in Story Telling: $600

Sign Up
How to Participate

Attend the "Welcome to P2P Meeting" 

Date: Tuesday, September 16

Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Memorial Union, Nueta Room
 

Details: This meeting is open to any and all NDSU students interested in participating in Problems to Possibilities. Come learn how the program works, meet potential teammates, and explore big ideas! Whether you're arriving with a team (no more than three students per team), plan to work independently or are looking to join a team, this is your chance to get connected and start building something impactful. An RSVP is encouraged but not required to attend.

Email jennifer.schillinger@ndsu.edu with questions.

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Community
Partners

Community Partners are P2P's guiding stars.
Community Partners are invited to submit a social, environmental, or economic challenge they would like a P2P team to address. If their challenge is selected, Community Partners provide insight and support as their team develops their project scope, solution landscape, and competition pitch. 
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Why we need you
Students are an underutilized source of talent. P2P aims to cultivate and showcase this talent in a relevant and meaningful way to our local community. Our world has wicked problems, but P2P believes that change starts here. You can be the source and catalyst for this change.

What's in it for you
  • An exceptional group of students might uncover a new way to advance your organization's efforts. 
  • You're invited to participate in P2P workshops led by career professionals covering topics like leadership, project management, and systems thinking. 
  • Increase your organization's visibility and share your mission with the community and potential funders.
Community Partners

Key
Dates

August

Aug 18 

RSVP for Welcome Meeting opens

November

Nov. 18

Workshop

December

Dec. 1

  • Poster Presentation Due

September

Sept. 16

Welcome to P2P Meeting​

October

Oct. 21

Workshop

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Dec. 8

  • Competition

Past Project Samples

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Water is Life

In 2022, an NDSU team explored the challenge of water access on the Navajo Nation. They won 2nd place out of over 950 teams worldwide at the Map the System global competition in Oxford, England.
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