Trumbull ACE Foundation

To promote the advancement of academic excellence and active citizenship for all Trumbull students, through financial support and development of competitive academic groups and civic service clubs.

March 8, 2025

By Linda S. Paslov, Ed.D.

Stress. That was the topic the 23 students who gathered for the 1st Annual Quick Thinking Design Sprint Workshop & Competition were tasked to address on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The Trumbull High School Media Center was the site of this challenge, which recruited participants who were in grades 8 through 12. Over the course of 6 hours, students first learned about right brain versus left brain thinking by facilitating professors Dr. Aaron Marks, a member of Trumbull BEI who teaches at Iona University’s LaPenta School of Business, and Dr. Brian Marks, who is an instructor at the University of New Haven’s Pompea College of Business. 

After some instruction about the design sprint process, students were randomly placed in four groups, each of which had an assigned mentor: Ms. Liz Esposito, Government and Community Relations Specialist at Avangrid; Mr. Chris Hulk, Director of Design and Construction at FieldTurf; Ms. Tiffany Lee, Director at Cumming Group; and Ms. Liza Rozenraukh, Learning Assistant at the University of New Haven. Each group then formulated a problem statement about stress, citing data to support their decision that stress is a problem that impacts a specific population. After presenting this to all present, each group then had to brainstorm five solutions to their selected problem, ultimately selecting the best solution and formulating a prototype, as well as a value proposition. After lunch and additional teamwork, final presentations in front of families and judges (Mrs. Lainie McHugh, Senior Physical Therapist and Assistant Clinical Supervisor at Rehabilitation Associates and Chairman of the Trumbull Board of Finance; Ms. Lara Walden, Program Manager at Trumbull Community Television; and Dr. Linda Paslov, Director of the Trumbull Agriscience and Biotechnology Center) resulted in the selection of two teams in a tie for 1st place, a 2nd place team, and a 3rdplace team. All participants received cash awards of varying amounts. Each team also selected an MVP who was awarded additional prize money.

Funding for this wonderful event was provided by a $6600 grant from the Town of Trumbull through the Office of the First Selectman, the Honorable Vicki Tesoro. Applications were made available to Trumbull non-profit organizations to fund special programs or projects (not ongoing activities) through the Trumbull American Rescue Plan Act Non-profit Grant Program Second Round. Organized by Dan Neumann, Executive Director of the Trumbull Business-Education Initiative (BEI), the event was co-sponsored by the Trumbull Academic Challenge for Excellence (ACE) Foundation, with Mr. Tom Tesoro serving as President.

Trumbull BEI and the ACE Foundation look forward to co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Quick Thinking Design Sprint Workshop & Competition next year and would appreciate funding assistance to make this a reality.