Innovation Springs Interview 1: Ariana Pasquini

• EPIIC LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/el-pomar-institute-for-innovation-and-commercialization-epiic/ 
• The Garage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegarageatuccs/
• XI Partner https://www.exponentialimpact.com/
• Small Business Development Center https://sbdc.colorado.gov/pikespeak 

📺 Viewers can access the full transcript or captions on the YouTube video for a deeper dive into the conversation.

https://youtu.be/XinBclCitAA 

🎧 Student Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Creativity at UCCS

What does innovation look like from a student perspective—and how do hands-on experiences shape career paths?

In this episode of Innovation Springs, host Hayley Blackburn sits down with Ariana Pasquini, a UCCS student and Event & Marketing Coordinator with EPIC, to explore how creativity, entrepreneurship, and real-world projects intersect in higher education.

Ariana shares how early experience working in her family’s business sparked her interest in communications, branding, and event strategy—and how that evolved through courses in innovation and entrepreneurship at UCCS. From building campaigns and coordinating events to working directly with startups in the EPIC Garage, this conversation highlights how students can actively participate in innovation ecosystems while still in school.

The episode also dives into what “innovation” really means beyond STEM—emphasizing problem-solving, creativity, and everyday experimentation. Ariana reflects on how hands-on classes, collaborative environments, and challenging projects helped her see herself not just as creative, but as an innovator.

Whether you're a student exploring career paths or a faculty member designing experiential learning opportunities, this episode offers a grounded look at how innovation develops through practice, community, and curiosity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How students can get involved in entrepreneurship and innovation programs at UCCS
• How hands-on experience shapes careers in communications, events, and branding
• What innovation looks like beyond STEM fields
• How EPIC and the Garage support student startups and ideas

🔑 Key Quotes

“Innovation… is tackling something in a new way.”

“I don’t think you can have innovation without inspiration.”

“There’s so many people who do not consider themselves innovative but are doing very innovative things.”

“I really like building the bigger picture… putting the puzzle pieces together to actually create that idea into practice.”

“A half finished project is better than no project at all.”

🎯 Why Students & Faculty Should Listen

This episode answers key questions like “How do students get involved in innovation and entrepreneurship?” and “How can hands-on learning shape career outcomes?”—making it especially valuable for students building experience and faculty creating engaging, real-world learning environments.

It also highlights how programs like EPIC and innovation-focused courses help students move from ideas to action—whether launching ventures, building creative projects, or developing career-ready skills.