Contents I. Introduction
Innovation has been and continues to foster the drive for entrepreneurial progress within society. Student innovation competitions and programs (ICPs), such as business plan competitions, hackathons, etc., provide a platform for participants to gain personal, professional, and educational skills while allowing them to tackle real-world problems. Organizers, in particular, allow innovative skills and practices to flourish within controlled environments such as innovation and pitch competitions, hackathons, and startup events. These competitions and events created and run by organizers benefit those participating, such as students, staff, and mentors, by allowing them to break routines, encourage creativity, and strengthen skill sets [1]. Many colleges and universities are home to diverse populations of students with different backgrounds. These students offer a myriad of differing viewpoints, ideas, and problem-solving abilities that allow for the cultivation of creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills [2]. ICPs also allow students to gain exposure and experience in different fields. This allows students to nurture their work abilities, as well as develop problem-solving methods based on the information they have learned [2]. Participation and cooperation in ICPs greatly impact students' innovative skills by encouraging the integration of outside knowledge and experiences [3]. Overall, ICPs provide many opportunities, benefits, and skills to participants.
