Lauren Miller | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
Eighteen Dayton-area innovators converged on the Student Union to celebrate Wright Brothers Day.
History
Wright Brothers Day commemorates Wilbur Wright’s Huffman Prairie flight on Oct. 5, 1905.
According to the National Air and Space Museum, this flight lasted for over 30 minutes over 24 miles, ending the experiential period of Wright Brothers flight and ushering in a new era of innovation.
To channel this spirit of innovation and education, the American Marketing Association hosted Wright Brothers Day for all members of the student body.
Lauren Miller is the president of the marketing organization at WSU, one of many members that began preparing for this event in July. According to Miller, the marketing club collaborated with the Dean Advisory Board and the Entrepreneurship Club for the event.
“I am most excited to see students coming out and interacting after COVID and able to network with students and innovators that are here,” Miller said.
Event overview
The event began at 11 a.m. in the SU Atrium with an address from Kendell Thompson, the superintendent of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
“The Wright Brothers, their work, has touched every single one of our lives whether we know it or not. Whether you’ve been on a plane or not, you have benefitted from aviation. It’s a story that connected the whole world and we should be proud of it here in Dayton,” park ranger for the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Cathleen Walters said.
Another presenter at the event was Wright Venture 2022 winner Christine Moser, business owner of Wrinkle Frinkle LLC, which offers handmade wood-burned goods.
According to Moser, Wrinkle Frinkle has continued to grow after the competition and Moser plans to expand the business soon.
“In the future, I would love to have a brick-and-mortar shop where, in the front half of the shop, I can sell all of my [goods], and in the back half, I can offer classes or have an art studio and just really the community and support shopping small,” Moser said.
Moser encourages other WSU students in the community to take a chance with their innovation and open a small business.
Other organizations and tables included the Nursing Learning Resource Center, Center for Genomics Research, Wright LIFE (Lifelike Immersion for Equity), a solar-powered boat, Calamityville, Dunbar Library Special Collections and Archives, GRILL (Gaming Research Integration and Learning Lab) at the Air Force Research Laboratory and more.
