The Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship held the annual Great Ideas Competition, providing students with an opportunity to bring their businesses to life while solving real-world problems across Asia and the Pacific. This year’s Great Ideas Competition was definitely one to remember. The contestants passionately shared their projects and radiated confidence in their solutions to the problems they hoped to overcome.
Inspired by a desire to uplift and support those often overlooked, the Great Ideas Competition was meant to support students by presenting them with a platform to share their business concepts. Ryan Ockey and his wife, Shauna, the sponsors of this event, made it clear that the competition is not just for the purpose of sustaining entrepreneurial aspirations alone, but also to help students when they “return home to create businesses that bless their communities, their countries, and the Church. We love supporting students as they realize their dreams." They said.
When asked about the purpose-driven innovation and its potential for service and global impact, Dr. Michael Morris, an assistant professor teaching theatre and business and one of the competition’s judges, said the following— “A strong fit between the founder and the community they hope to serve makes all the difference. The more passionate the founder is about a specific community, the more effectively they can bring their ideas to life.” Highlighting the importance of serving communities, he continued, “At its core, business is about meeting real needs. When your product or service is closely connected to a specific community, you’re better able to address those needs — and your business is far more likely to succeed.”
Over 39 teams were able to make it to the semifinals, however, only 10 advanced to the final round. Each finalist received a $500 scholarship in recognition of their hard work and dedication. Ultimately, three teams took home the top honors.
In first place was Logotau Avanitele, a senior from Tuvalu studying information technology. His project, "Manava Ecorenew" (Giving Life to Waste), was focused on repurposing plastic waste — “My project is straightforward: transforming plastic waste into valuable, durable furniture and reselling it. Back home, we don’t have a recycling facility, and there’s a lot of plastic waste. The government has tried to address it, but the problem continues.” Sharing how plastic waste has personally affected his community, he added, “We love our island—everyone knows we’re heavily affected by climate change, but what many people don’t realize is how much plastic pollution also threatens us. A lot of people see plastic only as pollution instead of seeing the potential for solutions. That’s what inspired me: taking something harmful and turning it into something valuable and useful for the community.”
Coming next, Fatima Dagohoy, a senior from the Philippines majoring in biology, and her partner Isabella Petty, a junior from Utah studying graphic design, claimed second place with their innovative student transportation project called “Sakay”. The team designed a solution to help students in underdeveloped areas of the Philippines get to school safely and reliably. "Growing up in that community, I saw classmates spending hours waiting for crowded tricycles just to get to school," Dagohoy explained. "We wanted to create a solution that keeps children safe while helping them access education more easily."
In third place, also touching on education, was the team behind "Spectrum Support", a program designed to provide much-needed services for adults with special needs. The team consists of siblings Chevy La Torre, a junior from the Philippines majoring in elementary education; Cheyenne La Torre, a sophomore majoring in hospitality and tourism; and Ceyenne La Torre, a sophomore also majoring in hospitality and tourism. The team’s project focuses on adults ages 18 to 27—a largely underserved population—by offering a combination of life skills training, vocational preparation, and emotional support. Students in the program will learn practical skills such as grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning, while also gaining opportunities to socialize and build friendships in a supportive environment.
Explaining their motivation during their presentation, the team said:
“Consider the challenges faced by families navigating special education. In Pasig City alone, over 36,000 students are eligible for special education, yet only 1,500 are currently enrolled. Government support is limited due to insufficient funding, and most existing organizations focus solely on children. But what about adults? That’s why we created Spectrum Support—to address this critical gap and provide much-needed services for adults with special needs.”
The Great Ideas Competition not only highlighted the creativity and innovation of BYU–Hawaii students, but also underscored their commitment to serving their communities and making a positive impact in the world. From transforming plastic waste into valuable furniture, to creating safer transportation for students, to providing vital services for adults with special needs, each project reflected the drive, passion, and purpose of the next generation of leaders. With mentorship, guidance, and opportunities like this, these students are well on their way to turning their ideas into real-world solutions that benefit both their local communities and the wider global community.