The Shoemaker Scholars program brings together 10 Indiana University Bloomington students from a variety of academic disciplines. They encourage other students to explore their own entrepreneurial and innovative interests, and they oversee the StartupIU website that connects students with university-based startups. John and Donna Shoemaker funded the program, which awards annual scholarships to its members. Travis J. Brown launched and directs the program.
Casey Curtis, a sophomore from Los Angeles, majors in entrepreneurship and corporation innovation in the Kelley School of Business. She has been a Shoemaker Scholar for one semester.
“While I won’t physically be returning to campus in the fall, I am looking forward to continuing my classes remotely as well as continuing to participate in all of my extracurriculars,” Curtis said. “I feel that while going remote this past year was very abrupt, my clubs were able to very easily transition into a remote learning environment, and I am confident that I can continue doing that throughout this year.”
Crimson Catalyst: What is the biggest impact Shoemaker Scholars have?
Casey Curtis: I believe that the biggest impact we have had is the spread of entrepreneurial spirit around campus through all of our resources. It’s one thing to hear about entrepreneurship and innovation from professors, but it’s another to get the resources straight from your peers. It makes it much more impactful and memorable, and I hope to continue growing that spirit as we expand our resources.
Crimson Catalyst: How did you learn about the Shoemakers Scholars program?
Casey Curtis: One of my mentors, Kacey Wood. I look up to her so much, and when she told me about this group, I knew I wanted to be involved!
Crimson Catalyst: What do you enjoy most about being a Shoemaker Scholar?
Casey Curtis: I love connecting with students who are like-minded, especially in a field as niche as entrepreneurship.
Crimson Catalyst: What is a common misconception students have about entrepreneurship and innovation?
Casey Curtis: I think a common misconception about entrepreneurship is when students believe that if they can’t immediately come up with a great idea, then they must not have the entrepreneurial bug. Entrepreneurship is about having the grit, passion and determination to fix a problem you see, not just thinking of good ideas and having a startup. If you exude those traits throughout your college career and beyond, you will inevitably find yourself innovating in various ways.
Crimson Catalyst: How do you share insights with others, as an ambassador?
Casey Curtis: I am always talking about innovation with my friends, as it is a huge part of my life. I am also constantly sharing resources with people close to me that I feel can help them get more comfortable with the idea of entrepreneurship, as I find that most business students like to stay on a very traditional path.
Crimson Catalyst: What are your own entrepreneurial endeavors?
Casey Curtis: I currently have a startup called Elevate that I am growing in the Shoebox on campus. Elevate is a mobile app that reduces elevator wait time and increases efficiency in buildings, all through a hands-free experience. With Elevate, you can track the elevator location and push all of the buttons from your phone. With the rise of COVID-19, I am confident that hands-free technology will be on the forefront of society.
More information about the Shoemaker Scholars program is available at the following websites:
Leave a Reply