Students from seven Florida universities competed for more than $50,000 in cash prizes as part of this year’s Blackstone LaunchPad Florida Network Innovation Challenge, sponsored by the Orlando Magic. The competition gives students access into real company operations, helping them build innovation skills and grow their personal and professional networks with peers from across the state.

The UCF team, which included sport business management students Allyson Judkins, Bryan Lupianez, Hayley Manners and Mariana Marcotti, was awarded $1,250 for their fourth-place finish. More than 500 students and 70 teams competed in qualifying rounds at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Florida International University, Florida State University (FSU), Miami Dade College, UCF, University of Florida and University of North Florida.

“This was a great experience as we were able to present our partnership proposal to industry professionals and put into practice all of the relevant coursework that the DeVos sport business management program has provided in the past year and a half,” says Lupianez, a graduate student in the DeVos program.

This year, the Orlando Magic presented the challenge to expand the NBA team’s international engagement strategy to new markets. For example, the Magic’s Brazil Night, hosted at a Magic home game, sells out annually and draws major stars from Brazil including football legend Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, and singer and television personality Claudia Leitte.

Blackstone LaunchPad, run by the charitable arm of the world’s largest alternative asset manager Blackstone, seeks to close the opportunity gap by equipping primarily first generation and underrepresented college students with key entrepreneurial skills and career exposure.

“This innovation challenge offers unmatched opportunity and access for students to develop a track record and relationships toward growing their careers in the business of sports,” says Orlando Magic Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Jay Riola. “Fan engagement — especially now in marketing to international audiences — is a core strategic opportunity for us as it is for all NBA franchises. We have been delighted to offer students from across the Blackstone LaunchPad Florida schools an opportunity to grow with us by offering new ideas and perspectives.”

Senior members of the Magic innovation team and business units worked with the students to refine their concepts and prepare for the final pitch to judges, who included senior executives from the NBA team and technology company UKG. Former two-time All-American FSU basketball star Morgan Jones and Beresford Ventures Manager/Partner Jim Balaschak ’86 ’92MBA, who earned degrees in finance and business administration from UCF.

Opening night of the final round competition aligned with the preseason matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Magic last Friday, offering students an immersive look at the live product the Magic presents to approximately 774,000 fans annually.

“Competition aside, I feel like this event benefited my teammates and myself hugely by giving us a chance to experience where the bar will be set for us in the sports world and any job situation,” says Jermaine Fleming II, a student from FAMU, which placed third in the competition. “This is especially important for me because I am a registered sports agent, and my dream is to ultimately work in the front office of a major sports franchise.”