Student innovators earn podium spot in Health Tech Challenge

Kade Bolen (center) and Nora Meeker (right) as they are presented with their check

Kade Bolen and Nora Meeker, student employees in Albertsons Library's MakerLab, immersed themselves in hands-on problem-solving to serve a patient at St. Luke's hospital. Their hard work and creativity paid off when they earned an unexpected top-three finish in the Health Tech Challenge.

In the summer of 2023, Bolen was introduced to a unique opportunity through Caleb Ashcraft, the MakerLab manager and a student mentor with ties to St. Luke's Hospital. Ashcraft connected Bolen with a patient who faced a challenge: limited mobility in her hands that made everyday tasks, like applying makeup, difficult. Existing makeup tools and accessories just weren't cutting it.

Seeing a chance to help, Bolen designed new 3D printed attachments allowing the patient to use her existing makeup brushes with greater ease and comfort. When Bolen demonstrated the prototype to the patient, her reaction was one of genuine excitement. His design worked, exceeding expectations and offering greater accessibility and independence.

"I really expected more to go wrong, but the prototype went really well," Bolen said.

But the story doesn't end there. Ashcraft encouraged Bolen to take the next step and get involved in the Venture College's Health Tech Challenge, a 'reverse-pitch' competition inviting Idaho university students to pitch innovative solutions to healthcare challenges as part of Boise Entrepreneur Week. Accompanying Bolen to the competition was MakerLab coworker Nora Meeker, an undeclared major exploring her options by planning to study abroad next semester.

Competing in the Health Tech challenge offered Bolen and Meeker many benefits beyond funding for their idea. For Meeker, the experience offered invaluable lessons in market research, pitching and public speaking. The experience also reinforced Bolen's confidence in his problem-solving abilities, confidence he plans to carry forward into his future software development career.

Looking ahead, Bolen's next step is joining the Venture College's Incubator program, which will provide mentorship and resources to help further develop the product and explore its potential. Meeker will be pursuing new opportunities in South Korea through the Study Abroad program this spring.

With determination, teamwork and a passion for solving problems, Bolen and Meeker's journey from concept to competition shows how Boise State students are not only learning, they're creating, innovating and making an impact on Idaho.

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