McMillon Innovation Studio's Demo Day Showcases Students Tackling Real-World Problems

A student team seeking to raise awareness about whole health care captured one of the top prizes at Demo Day, a bi-annual event showcasing a semester of learnings in the McMillon Innovation Studio, the University of Arkansas' campus innovation hub. 

"We were inspired by how often preventable health issues escalate because people are unaware of resources that exist to them or are unable to access them," said Nandini Arunachalam, team lead.  

The team - which included Olorunfemi Folarin, Scarlett Lopez, Elyana Martinez and Esther Olorunkunle - partnered with Community Clinic to create Wellness on Wheels, a mobile education and resource van. The program, unveiled Dec. 3 at the U of A's Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research, helps raise awareness in the community by attending local events to teach whole health principles and distribute preventative tools. 

"By bringing these resources directly into community spaces, we meet people where they already are, increasing awareness and accessibility," Arunachalam said. 

Launched in 2016, the studio is open to students across the U of A campus. The studio is overseen by the U of A's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a division of the Sam M. Walton College of Business. The studio works to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact. 

Chris Tisdel, the studio's director, was attending his first Demo Day since joining OEI earlier this fall. He said he was "absolutely blown away by the level of professionalism and delivery of the McMillon teams." 

"They are absolute bar-raisers, not only for themselves and their peers, but the next studio cohort." 

Students in the studio are given access to valuable mentorship and resources — providing further support to cultivate their creative skills and empower them to deliver impact innovation through organizational, social and entrepreneurial change.  

Applications for the spring semester are open and will be accepted through Jan. 18. The studio is open to undergraduate students from all majors.  

Joining the studio will allow students tackle real-world problems, gain hands-on experience with innovation methodologies and connect with local corporations and community leaders. The time commitment is generally two to five hours per week.  

After serving as a team member for at least one semester, students are eligible to apply for a paid project manager position. 

Tisdel said he wants to see applications from students with diversity of experience and academics. 

"The (studio) students amaze me because they want to do the hard things, make an impact and create value for mentor companies," he said. "Studio students are looking for purpose." 

Fall 2025 Demo Day Winners   

Audience Choice 

Toy Kiosk (Walmart) 

• Scope: An AI-powered kiosk designed to give Walmart shoppers fast, personalized gift recommendations in under two minutes, simplifying choices, reducing overwhelm and helping every customer leave confident and satisfied about their purchase.  

• Project lead: Ada Monteys, senior, organizational management and leadership/supply chain 

• Team: Alvaro Garcia, junior, computer science; Morgan Patton, senior, business finance/financial management and investment; Lucas Yull, sophomore, computer science 

Commercial Innovation Teams  

Acosta 

• Scope: The team designed an AI solution that reduces Business Development Managers' (BDM) manual photo auditing time, freeing them to focus on strategic client engagement and high-value, profit-driving work for Acosta. 

• Project lead: Maahi Tyagi, junior, supply chain management/business analytics 

• Team: Sofia Boone, junior, supply chain management/psychology; William Hacker, freshman, psychology/finance; Zoen Howley, senior, finance; Ameen Riyas, senior, supply chain 

Product Teams   

Sam's Club 

• Scope: This team is simplifying Sam's Club's return process through a mobile feature that improves the member experience and reduces service desk congestion, freeing up staff to better serve customers in-store. 

• Project lead: Andres Aponte Nunez, senior, industrial engineering 

• Team: Bella Chavez, junior, supply chain management; Luke Ehrisman, junior, data science; Anna Kincade, senior, marketing; Claudia Orlowski, junior, supply chain management/finance 

Social Impact Design Teams   

Wellness on Wheels (Community Clinic) 

• Scope: Wellness on Wheels is a mobile health education van that teaches whole health principles and delivers preventative resources to increase awareness, promote proactive care, and increase healthcare accessibility.  

• Project lead: Nandini Arunachalam, senior, biology/information systems 

• Team: Olorunfemi Folarin, sophomore, biomedical engineering; Scarlett Lopez, junior, biomedical/medical engineering; Elyana Martinez, junior, biomedical engineering; Esther Olorunkunle, junior, biomedical engineering

About the U of& A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, and Startup Village, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.