Several UA students received awards at the Tikkun Olam Makers 2025 Global Innovation Challenge, a competition where students design affordable solutions to help people with disabilities.
“Each year, the Global Innovation Challenge brings out the best of our international network of communities, which exhibit inspiring dedication, creativity and generosity in creating their solutions for needs of people with disabilities and then contributing them to humanity,” TOM founder and president Gidi Grinstein said.
Three UA students won the grand prize in the Daily Living category for their QuickClamp invention. The QuickClamp, designed by Sandra Onyishi, Zander Davidson and Lisa Clary Galibert, connects motorized scooters to wheelchair frames.
The QuickClamp is 3D printed and has three main components to function: a grip for the wheelchair frame, a receptacle that mounts on the scooter and a lever that locks in place for attachment.
“The Clamp solves so many problems that we currently have,” said Margaret Stran, UA associate director of Adapted Athletics. “We’re just really excited to be working on these projects and seeing the fruits of their labors.”
The University also received an honorable mention in the Disability Support category for the design of a parameterized prosthesis leg cover.
All competing designs are contributed to TOM’s public online library so that they can be used for global manufacturing and public use.
