Stories & Updates

Happy Earth Day! While it may seem like everything is going wrong in the world, you may be able to find some relief in the fact that the Earth is returning to a more natural state in the face of the ongoing pandemic. A slowdown in economic activity due to measures taken to protect against coronavirus has resulted in significant decreases in air pollution levels. The atmospheric density of several pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, which is emitted by motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities, has been reduced, making the air cleaner and safer to breathe in much of the world. The absence of heavy traffic in cities has brought down noise pollution, allowing the wildlife of places like New York City and Boston to be heard unlike ever before. The murky waterways of Venice are now clear, usually clouded with sediment brought up by motorboats. A small silver lining on a tragic situation, the planet is sending us a simple message: change our consumption and way of living, or it will change it for us.

My name is Kelly Andreason and I work at Horn on the Enrichment team as a Special Projects Coordinator. One of the best parts of my job is being able to build community among our students. As an Entrepreneurship student myself, I have the advantage of being one of our “customers” and can better understand what will resonate with students. This has led our team to run a variety of community-building events from our annual Welcome Party to a Shark Tank Watch Party to a De-Stress Fest for finals! I love these events because our students are able to come together, make new friendships, and strengthen the Horn community.

University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship’s 2020 Diamond Challenge this year conquered its own big challenge: pivoting from a three-day campus program to two weeks of creative and expanded virtual sessions.

For those who missed our introductory article, the Horn Ambassadors are a select group of students that have been chosen to represent the Horn Entrepreneurship Program. From working events at the Venture Development Center to talking to prospective students about the entrepreneurship major, the Horn Ambassadors are always out there representing Horn in the best possible way. Let's get to know some more Ambassadors in the third installment of the series!

Editor's note: this is the fourth article in a series that  explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

Enrichment programming at Horn is fundamentally experiential – we coordinate opportunities for our students to do, connect, innovate and create. But with the switch to online classes and virtual living, Horn’s enrichment team was met with a new challenge: how can we provide valuable, enriching hands-on experiences without the “hands-on” part?

For those who missed our introductory article, the Horn Ambassadors are a select group of students that have been chosen to represent the Horn Entrepreneurship Program. From working events at the Venture Development Center to talking to prospective students about the entrepreneurship major, the Horn Ambassadors are strong representatives of the University’s entrepreneurial community. In the second installment, we’ll get to know a few ambassadors a little bit better!

Trying to find productive activities to do while quarantined can prove to be a difficult task after a couple days on lock down, and you can only clean your house or organize your spice cabinet alphabetically so many times. What better way to spend your time stuck at home than trying to win money for your leadership, academic studies and entrepreneurial promise?

Editor's note: this is the third article in a series that  explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

At times like these, we find ourselves traversing new territory. When we realized that the writing was proverbially on the wall regarding our ability to host the 2020 Diamond Challenge Summit on the University of Delaware campus, our team never once questioned whether or not the show would go on. We felt compelled to deliver the best possible outcome, on time, to our students. Why? At a time when our worlds have been turned upside down and many of our regular routines and activities have been put on pause, we need to maintain connectivity and perpetuate the hope and inspiration that naturally aligns with entrepreneurship.

The Horn Ambassadors are a select group of UD undergraduates from different majors and minors who share a profound interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. Their purpose is to be experts in Horn Entrepreneurship offerings, liaise with new and prospective students and support Horn events. An upcoming weekly series will highlight each ambassador and their reflections on entrepreneurship.

Editor's note: this is the second article in a series that  explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

Taking stock of experiences over the last two weeks …

… No family spring break vacation in sunny, warm weather.

… Cancelled trip to Las Vegas with close friends I’ve known for more than 35 years.

… Paused daily routine of putting my daughter on the school bus and heading to the office.

… Zero spontaneous, face-to-face interaction with the people with whom I enjoy working.

… makes it clear that COVID-19 has caused stock outs in the kitchen cupboards of my life. The sugar – what I was most looking forward to – is gone. And so is the ketchup – the enjoyable, mundane staples of daily life. You’re no doubt missing similar things, and perhaps even more.