On Wednesday, Nov. 6, N.C. A&T will host the Framework for Opportunity Convergence and the Utilization of Sustainable Solutions (FOCUSS) Idea Competition. The competition will be held on the campus of A&T in the Memorial Student Union, Stallings Ballroom beginning at 11 a.m.

The FOCUSS Idea competition provides students with a unique opportunity to share and cultivate creative solutions to a sponsoring corporation. Leading the FOCUSS Idea Competition at A&T is Dr. Samuel Owusu-Ofori, chair of mechanical engineering and Dr. Thaddeus McEwen, professor and director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Entrepreneurships and E-Business (ICEEB), in the School of Business and Economics. The competition opened to current engineering students is sponsored by Honda Aircraft Company and Honda of America Manufacturing. Areas of concentration include: mechanical engineering, chemical and biological engineering, green and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, industrial and systems engineering, computational science and engineering and business management and economics.

Finalists will have eight minutes to present their idea on how to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment by improving fuel efficiency, and reducing noise and harmful emissions to a panel of judges and audience of peers, faculty, entrepreneurs, and executives from Honda Aircraft Company and Honda of America Manufacturing. Winners will be chosen based on innovativeness, creativity, presentation, community involvement and business development. A total of five ideas will be selected and the grand prize winner will receive $1,000.