Call for Small Businesses: Host an IgniteU Fellowship Team
IgniteU is currently seeking businesses and organizations interested in partnering with our IgniteU Fellowship for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters. Fellowship teams work on an independent project designed to explore a question, challenge, or opportunity within your organization. The ideal project is an “if only we had the time or resources” idea – one that isn’t time-sensitive but worth investigating.
Students are supported and compensated through the Fellowship at no financial cost to participating businesses and organizations. In return, partners provide mentorship, professional exposure, and guidance as students conduct research, test ideas, and develop recommendations. Projects may take place on-site, remotely, or in a hybrid format, and the goal of the program is to help students strengthen their communication, teamwork, and professionalism, which are all key skills for success in today’s workforce.
By providing a project aligned with a current business challenge, you will receive 8-10 hours per week of work time from each fellow. During that time, students will:
Understand user needs: Gather insights directly from staff and stakeholders to better understand the problem and how potential solutions may affect them.
Generate creative solutions: Explore innovative approaches to address the identified problem.
Test and refine prototypes: Suggest and test ideas, incorporate feedback, and deliver an actionable recommendation/solution.
<p”>Previous placement sites have reported that working with fellows was rewarding and that projects were easy to design. They also described fellows as “key players” who helped provide “better understanding of the challenges of our end users.”
Partner with IgniteU and give your small business an innovative edge; work with the next generation of top-tier talent by hosting a uniquely qualified student fellow.
Organizations interested in hosting a Fellowship Team are encouraged to contact IgniteU at igniteu@nystec.com to learn more about becoming a Fellowship partner.
March STEAM Highlights!
On March 23rd and 24th, IgniteU NY was excited to bring engaging STEAM learning experiences to students at Redemption Christian Academy and Berlin High School through a special collaboration with Rock the Street, Wall Street.
In celebration of Pi Day (3.14), students learned how Pi is used in different concepts and fields, helping them build a stronger understanding of its importance and applications. The workshop was created to help students understand how this important mathematical concept shows up in everyday life and future career paths.
IgniteU NY is excited to continue working with partners like Rock the Street, Wall Street to bring impactful STEAM learning opportunities to local students.
A Dedicated Ecosystem for Innovators and Entrepreneurs with John Liddy, Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub
We’re kicking off Season 2 with a great conversation featuring John Liddy, Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub, powered by CenterState CEO.
In this episode, John dives into what it takes to build a thriving innovation ecosystem, how INSPYRE supports entrepreneurs at every stage, and the role collaboration plays in turning bold ideas into real-world impact. It’s a great listen for anyone interested in startups, economic development, and the future of innovation in Central New York and beyond.
Click the link to watch now!
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STEAM Women Rising Symposium
On Monday, March 9, IgniteU Program Manager, Victoria Palasieski, and IgniteU Fellowship Lead, Dayna Maniccia, attended the Project Fibonacci Foundation’s 4th Annual STEAM Women Rising Symposium at Beeches Manor in Rome, NY. They were joined by NYSTEC CFO, Jasminka Husic and IgniteU Fellow, Sabah Hajij. The event was sponsored by NYSTEC and welcomed students from 11 school districts across Central New York for a full-day leadership and career exploration experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The event focused on intentional workforce development while investing in the next generation of female leaders. Each participating school received one full scholarship to the Project Fibonacci Foundation STEAM Leadership Conference this summer.
Throughout the day the attending students were able to hear from inspiring women across industries, participate in hands-on experiences in the “HERizon Hubs”, and building meaningful connections with professionals and peers. The HERizon Hubs were interactive breakout sessions designed to introduce the students to real career pathways through conversation, hands-on learning, and direct connections with professionals in those fields. The students rotated through three different hubs to gain insight into a variety of industries and opportunities. The Hubs represented industries such as: Health, Trades, Technology, Art, Education, and Leadership.
Following the Hubs, the students all gathered together for lunch and an inspiring Keynote presentation by Gianna Michalak, MS, CNS, a Board-Certified Clinical Nutrition Specialist, the Co-Founder of Root AI Health, and Founder of Autoimmune Babe Wellness. She discussed her personal story and how it can apply to everyone in the room if they know what is possible when you combine curiosity, courage, and the willingness to challenge what is “known.” She left the students with the message that they are not defined by their circumstances, they are not limited by outdated thinking, and that their future is up to them to shape.
Learn more about the Symposium