NORTH CANTON – Walsh University senior finance major Joe Knopp of East Canton has been named U.S. Student Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneurs’ Organization at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a global network of 15,000 entrepreneurs across 45 countries.
According to a news release from Walsh University, Knopp’s goal is to tackle the world’s water crisis:
Knopp recently beat out 1,200 other students who own and operate a business to win United States Student Entrepreneur of the Year. He will continue to pitch his company Ripple at the 2022 GSEA Global Finals in May.
Knopp founded We are the Ripple in November of 2020 and launched March 17, 2021. He spent his college savings to manufacture his first product line – Ripple water bottles. For every 1,000 sold, a water well is built through their nonprofit entity. Within one year, he went from concept to reality and became the first to build a modern solar-powered water well in Uganda. The first well was built in the village of Katiiti and provides clean water to more than 2,000 people and direct lines to two elementary schools. Seeing it for himself, and realizing what it meant for the village, was emotional for Knopp.
“I was just overwhelmed,” Knopp said. “Everybody was laughing, crying, singing and rejoicing. I literally want to solve the world water crisis, and I plan to do this until the day I die.”
Since his trip to Uganda last October, Knopp has dug 10 more wells, costing about $10,000 each, impacting more than 30,000 in Uganda. His group has supported multiple orphanages, schools, and even a whole hospital. In April, Knopp will travel to Uganda again to coordinate building additional wells. He plans to expand this humanitarian effort to other African countries, Central America and India.
“Creating Ripple has already been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Knopp said.
“I’m honored to be recognized, but this award wasn’t from my efforts alone,” Joe Knopp said. “I can’t begin to thank the Ripple team for all of their efforts, my mentors for answering the phone every time I had questions, and the Ripple community for believing in us every step along the way.”
Stark State College plans spring open houses
JACKSON TWP. – Stark State College will hold spring open houses for prospective students and their families from 5 to 7 p.m. March 31 at Stark State Akron, 360 Perkins St. and April 7 at main campus, 6200 Frank Ave. NW.
Students and their guests can meet professors and admissions reps, get help with the financial aid process, tour the campus, learn about student services and resources and explore program options. Seniors can learn about free fall tuition for 2022 high school graduates. For more information and to RSVP, visit www.starkstate.edu/openhouse.
Migration Awareness Walk set at Malone University
CANTON – The Center for Intercultural Studies at Malone University, in partnership with the Immigrant Worker Project, is hosting a Migration Awareness simulation walk April 8 and 9 to help participants understand the experience of migrants traveling from the southern border of the U.S. and moving to Ohio.
This one-hour walk is open to students, employees, their families, and community members, and the event is free as a result of grant funding from the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. The program is designed to help participants gain an understanding of both the immigrant travel experience and the various regional organizations which serve immigrants.
After the walk there will be opportunities to connect with agencies working with the regional immigrant population, as well as food made by migrants. More
information about the event, along with online registration, can be found at www.malone.edu/interculturalevents
Nursing scholarship application deadline is April 15
MASSILLON – The Massillon Rotary Foundation is offering nursing scholarship awards of $3,000 per recipient.
Eligible applicants must live or work in Massillon or Western Stark County and be accepted or enrolled in an accredited nursing program. Scholarships are eligible to be renewed annually.
Scholarship applications and guidelines are available at www.massillonrotary.org. The deadline to submit applications is April 15, and awards will be announced by June 15. For more information, contact MRFoundation10@gmail.com.
