Oakland University’s Big Ideas Oakland or, B.I.O., initiative is the epitome of what extraordinary students can accomplish when given the opportunity to dream big. Made possible by Sheldon Yellen and BELFOR USA Group Inc., B.I.O. inspires students across all areas of study to champion new ways of solving society’s most pressing problems.
History of Big Ideas at Oakland University
In 1957, Matilda Dodge Wilson and her husband, Alfred Wilson, had a big idea.
They would generously donate their 1,400-acre estate, its buildings and $2 million to establish what would later become Oakland University, a place where thinkers, dreamers and doers come together to shape a brighter future.
A self-made businesswoman and passionate philanthropist, Matilda dedicated her life to transforming the lives of others through the power of education and community outreach. Decades later, Oakland University students perpetuate her pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and achievement as they strive to honor her legacy with big ideas of their own.
Launching Big Ideas Oakland
Introduced in fall 2018 during the launch of Oakland University’s historic “Aspire. Advance. Achieve.” fundraising campaign, Big Ideas Oakland was built on the ideals of innovation and progress.
To mark the launch of the campaign, Graeme Harper, Ph.D., dean of The Honors College, interviewed Malcolm Gladwell, a renowned author, journalist and public speaker. They delved into the world-changing concept of big ideas and discussed how empowering students to explore their own ingenuity can make a meaningful difference for all of us.
Gladwell announced the first Big Ideas Oakland winners at the campaign launch’s student event, showcasing the exceptional forward-thinking and creative problem-solving that OU students aspire to achieve.
The Competition
A unique, two-part competition, B.I.O. provides a platform for freshmen in The Honors College to showcase the original ideas they developed through “Tools of Discovery,” an initiative that guides idea generation, entrepreneurship and resourcing strategies.
Students first submit their big ideas in the fall for Round One, and winners receive seed money to further develop their ideas for the next round.
In Round Two, students present their ideas to The Honors College Board of Visitors: a diverse group of professionals representing a variety of industries which include law, engineering and healthcare. Top-placing students receive a coveted scholarship which is applied toward tuition for the following academic year.
“The wonderful part of this competition is the entrepreneurial component,” Harper says. “It’s not enough to just say their idea—students need to have a business plan that demonstrates how their idea will have an impact, what resources they need and how they plan to get it done.”
The Impact
The immediate impact of B.I.O. is evident through students’ personal growth and the evolution of their ideas.
“Many ideas that students choose to work on come from their own personal experiences and their desire to solve a problem that has had a profound impact on them or someone they love,” Harper explains.
One student created a smartwatch app to track inflammatory markers for rheumatoid arthritis, a condition she was diagnosed with as a child. Another student designed a subcutaneous artificial pancreas inspired by his own experiences living with type 1 diabetes. Jewelry to record and transmit helpful messages for Alzheimer's patients was the idea of a student whose grandmother was struggling with the disease.
“Big Ideas Oakland is a rewarding experience for all students who participate. It encourages students to dream big while exercising their entrepreneurial skills,” Harper shares. “Many students go on to work in their areas of interest after they graduate.”
This year, honorary guest speaker Craig Williams, a senior lead aerospace engineer at NASA, helped to announce the four winning ideas which included a bluetooth mobile IV pump and a way to eliminate biases in the way we vote.
Supporting Big Ideas
Made possible by the generosity of Sheldon Yellen and BELFOR USA Group Inc., Big Ideas Oakland has continuously awarded scholarships since its inception in 2018.
No stranger to the risk and reward of big ideas, Yellen is the Chief Executive Officer of BELFOR Holdings, Inc., a $2.5 billion entity that operates numerous companies including BELFOR Property Restoration, the largest disaster recovery and property restoration company in the world.
Known around the globe for his savvy entrepreneurship and compassionate management style, Yellen’s unique business approach garnered him appearances on the critically acclaimed CBS television show “Undercover Boss” and finds him entering his sixth season on ABC’s “Hearts of Heroes” show, seen locally every Sunday.
A beloved leader, he has created a corporate culture centered on caring for employees, customers and communities. In fact, BELFOR’s commitment to the communities it serves helped coin the term “Belforian”: someone who demonstrates integrity, loyalty and compassion.
A Detroit native, Yellen began working at 11 and dropped out of high school to help support his family. He would later complete his high school diploma at the age of 53. In 2019, Yellen received an honorary degree from Oakland University in recognition of his outstanding achievements.
The drive that fuels Sheldon’s approach to business is the same drive that moves him to support Big Ideas Oakland — a hunger for knowledge, a passion for progress and a belief in the youth of our world.
“BELFOR’S distinctive method of doing business, the creativity and innovation that they bring to the table on all the endeavors they support parallels the qualities that Big Ideas Oakland represents,” Harper says.
Yellen is dedicated to B.I.O., not only in supporting students, but also in shaping our future for the better through purpose, planning and perseverance. Initiatives such as Big Ideas Oakland align with the vision of the university's founders and honor the contributors, like Sheldon Yellen, who make it all possible.
For more information on how you can get involved with Big Ideas Oakland, please contact Kelly Brault at [email protected].
December 4, 2024
By Laura Bismack
