On September 12th and 13th, Jackson Madison County School System hosted the annual High School Hub City Innovation Competition Cup at Union University to give high school students a chance to win several different scholarship amounts. The two-day competition brings students together from Madison County schools to collaborate and pitch ideas to meaningfully improve Jackson County.
Each of the participating Madison County schools were led by a teacher who selected a certain number of students to compete. The teacher then served as a coach for their group of selected students at the event. Scholarship prizes included $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third, all for Union University.
This year the problem presented to the high school students was the concern over a rising number of microplastics found in Jackson waterways. Collaboration began on Friday immediately following the announcement of the 2025 year’s theme. On Saturday afternoon, the competing groups could pitch either a product, a project, or a campaign idea in front of representatives from each of the supporting partners.
Micah, a Senior high school student who aspires to play volleyball in college, shared that her group would use a campaign. When asked about any previous involvement with the Hub City Innovation Competition, Micah said she had participated last year as well. “Our group knows each other, so we know how to work each other well.”
Dr. Colene Trent, professor for Economics and Director of Events for the McAfee School of Business at Union, shared her passion for the event to be a Jackson community outreach opportunity rather than merely a scholarship event for prospective Union students. For years, Union has held a Hub City Innovation Competition for the Union college students in the spring. But three years ago, she explained, the McAfee school of Business extended an invitation to local high school students join in the collaborative Hub City Innovation event by creating a two-day September weekend version for high school students.
With this invitation to local high school students, Union University gets to show hospitality to members of the Jackson community by providing all meals for the students throughout the weekend, inspiring creativity in the youth of Jackson, and showing Union’s new Ethos building to prospective college students who participate in the competition, as well as the cash prizes and scholarships offered for the winners.
Additionally, Union’s hospitality extends to the competition experience itself. “The students are tasked with researching and thinking about the fiscal needs of their idea and what partnerships are needed,” said Dr. Plyler, a JMCSS District Support Advisor. She further explained that the students are given prompts that will teach them both creativity and business skills, including learning to pitch ideas, solving real world problems, and collaboration.
The 2025 partnerships included Centennial Bank, United Way of West Tennessee, Union’s McAfee School of Business, Greater Jackson Chamber, TCAT Jackson, and University of Memphis Lambuth. Dr. Colene Trent expressed special gratitude to Centennial Bank for partnering for the 2025 year.
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