One of Prosper Lincoln’s strategic objectives related to the Innovation & Entrepreneurship focus area is to provide opportunities that will connect students to innovation.
Thanks to the Future Builders Challenge, high school students in Lincoln can identify their aptitudes to become entrepreneurs, innovators and builders. Grounded in global Gallup research, the Builder Profile 10 assessment has been provided at no charge to high school freshmen and business clubs in all Lincoln public and private schools.
“For years we have invested time, resources and coaching to help identify who are the best athletes, scholars and performing artists,” says Rich Claussen, Prosper Lincoln’s Ambassador for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “Conversely, we have done very little to do the same to identify and grow the talents of those who will be builders. Builders of ideas, businesses and communities.This Future Builders initiative is a great first step.”
The Future Builders Challenge project has 4 main components:
BP10 Assessment: Using the Gallup BP10 assessment, over 3400 freshman students and about 750 upperclassmen involved in business and entrepreneurship clubs across all public and parochial schools in Lincoln will learn their propensity for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Each of us is born to build, and we each have a unique set of talents. The BP10 assessment identifies a person’s dominant builder talents, what role fits best and gives action items for applying these talents. Builder Talents include: Confidence, Delegator, Determination, Disruptor, Independence, Knowledge, Profitability, Relationship, Risk and Selling. Builder Roles include: Rainmaker, Conductor and Expert.
Knowing their builder talents and roles opens students to the endless possibilities of their skill sets, and provides opportunities for them to collaborate with other like-minded students, successful professionals and educators.
“Dr. Don Clifton devoted his life to studying human development,” explains Todd Johnson, Global Channel Leader, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation at Gallup. “He started his journey in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the early 1960s. Today, Gallup is thrilled to establish this exciting new partnership right here in Lincoln to help thousands of young people cultivate the mindset of a builder, find solutions to local problems, create demand, generate economic energy, and transform lives and economies. It is our hope that Lincoln becomes a beacon of builder excellence that communities all over the world study can replicate.”
Inspiration Rally: It is estimated that nearly 300 students will be identified through the Builder Assessment as matching the strengths needed to be a successful “Builder.” These students and their parents will be invited to an Inspiration Rally at Innovation Campus on March 12 with top community leaders where they will hear how others took their strengths to change their communities and build their businesses.
Boot Camp/Pitch Competition: All qualifying students will be encouraged to participate in a Boot Camp at the University of Nebraska College of Business on April 7 and then a Boot Camp, Coaching Session and Pitch Competition, to be held at Nebraska Innovation Campus on April 9. At these events students will learn more about their strengths, how to build on them and build their pitch with community mentors on ideas to solve challenges for the community. Investment will be available to help launch the winning ideas presented at the competition.
Clifton Strengths Institute: Using the pitch competition, the BP 10 assessment and an application process, up to thirty students will receive a month-long Clifton Strengths Institute session, in June at UNL. Graduates from the Institute session will receive up to $500 in the form of a “529” college scholarship for their work. Additionally, Gallup Strengths trained UNL undergrads will mentor each of the 30 students for the remainder of their high school career.
“The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools is excited to collaborate with the community to provide this once in a lifetime opportunity for students to tap into their full potential and become tomorrow’s builders,” said Wendy Van, President of the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools. “It takes just one amazing experience to put a student on a path to reaching their full potential. The Future Builders Challenge is exactly what our students need–to discover and explore what part they can play in building the companies of tomorrow. Education comes from many sources and the partners who are committed to supporting the Future Builders are making an impact that will last a lifetime.”
The Future Builders Challenge is made possible in Lincoln by generous support from the Foundation for Lincoln Pubic Schools, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Jim and Penny Krieger Family Foundation, Bill Cintani, Assurity, Lincoln Industries, Don’t Panic Labs, Lincoln Community Foundation, Nelnet, Ameritas, Gallup, Spreetail, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Prosper Lincoln.