Texas Tech's Month-Long Conference Awards Over $360,000 to Innovators, Scholars, Researchers, & Entrepreneurs
In April, Texas Tech didn’t just celebrate the best in innovation, research, scholarship, and entrepreneurship… it unleashed it.
Across four weeks, the seventh annual Discoveries to Impact (DTI) Month transformed campus into a living laboratory of bold ideas, fearless entrepreneurship, groundbreaking undergraduate research, and impactful scholarship. From undergraduate researchers to startup founders, engaged scholars to community partners, DTI 2025 showcased the very best of what it means to dream big and build the future.
With more than 2,500 attendees and a total of $362,000 awarded to undergraduate researchers, innovators, engaged scholars, and entrepreneurs, DTI Month didn’t just amplify collaboration, it ignited real-world impact across West Texas and beyond.
Research Week: Showcasing Breakthroughs and Bold Discoveries
Discoveries to Impact Month launched with Research Week, showcasing the bold creativity of Texas Tech’s undergraduate researchers. Over 450 students presented their work at the 17th annual TTU Undergraduate Research Conference (URC), hosted by the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences (TrUE). Across two full days of poster sessions, talks, and events, more than 900 students, faculty, community members, and reviewers were engaged.
Building a successful event of this scale required significant support. A new partnership with the Museum of Texas Tech University was instrumental this year, providing the venue and staff support needed to host the large-scale conference.
"Given the significant challenges our research community faced this year, it was incredibly inspiring to see the Undergraduate Research Conference flourish, bringing together more researchers and faculty mentors than ever before,” said Dr. Levi Johnson, Director of the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences. “The success of this year's URC, enhanced by new campus collaborations, truly speaks to the resilience and dedication of our students and the dedication of their mentors. For example, we hosted almost 170 TrUE Scholars and partnered with more than 100 incredible peer reviewers from the STEP Learning Assistant Program!”
A major new highlight this year was the Commercialization Poster Competition, a partnership between TrUE with the Texas Tech Innovation Hub and Lubbock Economic Development Alliance. Ten finalists were selected to reimagine their research through an entrepreneurial lens, pitching how their discoveries could launch startup companies. This exciting new competition sparked conversations around innovation, real-world impact, and the future of research beyond the lab. A total of $5,000 was awarded to 5 undergraduate students. These students will also receive a year-long membership to the Innovation Hub and an invitation to compete for a JumpStart Microgrant.
Adding to the celebration of undergraduate excellence, the Center for the Integration of STEM Education & Research (CISER) hosted its annual CISER Research Celebration Banquet during the week. The banquet welcomed 85 attendees and awarded over $42,000 in scholarships and mission trip support to outstanding CISER Undergraduate Research Scholars, further reinforcing the university's commitment to fostering the next generation of researchers, teachers, health professionals and inspired thinkers!
“We look forward to sharing the DTI experience each year by bringing together our current and alumni Undergraduate Research Scholars and our generous alumni Honorary Scholars who enjoy networking and learning about current research, outreach, and innovation. The TTU alumni connection is vital to our shared mission and future success,” shared Julie Isom, Associate Director for Undergraduate Research at CISER.
Startup Week: Where Big Ideas Took Flight
The momentum of Discoveries to Impact Month continued into Startup Week, where the spirit of entrepreneurship took center stage with the Texas Tech Innovation Hub. The week kicked off with the Keynote Luncheon, where over 350 attendees gathered to hear from Texas Tech alumnus Blake Buchanan, founder of Bahama Buck’s. Blake shared his inspiring journey of growing a single snow cone stand into a nationally recognized brand, highlighting the role of innovation in shaping his business.
The energy continued at the Startup Expo, where 15 Innovation Hub startups, including current tenants, Accelerator graduates, and emerging ventures, showcased their companies to the community.
The highlight of the week was the Texas Tech Accelerator Competition, where 18 finalists pitched their ventures for a place in the 2025-2026 Accelerator Cohort. Each team competed for up to $40,000 in seed funding and full access to the Hub’s entrepreneurial resources. In the end, $300,000 was awarded to 12 startup teams, officially launching them into the year-long program.
Startup Week wrapped up with the lively Awards Social, drawing over 100 guests. Two People’s Choice Awards (each for $500) were also handed out- one at the Luncheon and one at the Awards Social-allowing the community to celebrate their favorite startups.
Engagement Week: Bridging Universities and Communities
The third week of Discoveries to Impact Month, Engagement Week, highlighted the power of community partnerships through engaged scholarship through Texas Tech Outreach and Engagement. On Tuesday, April 15th, the Engaged Scholarship Awards Banquet recognized five outstanding projects and their faculty leaders, awarding a total of $9,000 to support their continued efforts. Over 125 attendees gathered to celebrate, including special guest Provost Ron Hendrick, who emphasized the importance of outreach and engagement in advancing Texas Tech’s mission.
The Engaged Scholarship Awards honor faculty whose work creates meaningful, reciprocal partnerships with communities to address critical challenges. Their projects exemplify how research, teaching, and creative activities can drive real-world change locally, regionally, and globally.
“Engaged scholarship isn’t only about research, but also relationships. These partnerships show how the university and the local Lubbock community can work together to create lasting impact far beyond campus walls,” shares Dr. Birgit Green, Associate Vice Provost of Outreach & Engagement. “Working together to help solve issues communities are facing is where the true power of academic work lies.”
Extending this spirit of engagement into the broader community, the Innovation Hub partnered with Lubbock Christian School to support entrepreneurial education for young innovators. Over the course of two days, the Hub introduced more than 60 fifth- and sixth-grade students to the fundamentals of idea creation and venture development. This hands-on program showcased the importance of investing early in entrepreneurial thinking and reflected the Innovation Hub’s mission to strengthen community partnerships.
The week culminated with the URC Awards Banquet, hosting approximately 350 attendees to celebrate the outstanding undergraduate research showcased throughout the conference. The banquet announced $5,500 awarded to undergraduate students through the LEDA Outstanding Impact Awards and $300 to four undergraduates through the Undergraduate Writing Center Abstract Awards. A full list of awardees can be found, here.
Innovation Week: Shaping the Future
Innovation Week highlighted the next wave of groundbreaking startups entering the prestigious Texas Tech Accelerator Program. Thirteen graduating startup teams gathered to reflect on their journeys, sharing key lessons learned and advice for the incoming cohort of entrepreneurs.
To officially welcome the new class of 12 Accelerator startups, the Innovation Hub, alongside the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official start of their year-long journey. The celebrations wrapped up with a high-energy networking social, bringing together over 80 attendees from across the Texas Tech and Lubbock innovation communities.
Celebrating innovation beyond entrepreneurship, CISER hosted its annual Scholar Retreat in Mason, Texas, where undergraduate researchers explored regional biodiversity, participated in herpetology fieldwork, and built community through outdoor research activities at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area — fostering the next generation of research-driven innovators.
Wrapping Up: Impact that Lasts
Discoveries to Impact Month 2025 wasn’t just a celebration, it was a declaration of Texas Tech’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries, sparking innovation, and making a lasting impact. From groundbreaking startups to transformative research and powerful community collaborations, DTI 2025 amplified the power of creativity and bold thinking, setting the stage for the future of innovation.
A special thank you to our sponsors, whose support made it all possible, especially the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), the Texas Tech University Office of the President, and the TTU Health Sciences Center Office of the President. Your partnership empowers us to reach new heights.
And this? This is just the beginning. The journey has only begun, and the best is yet to come.