The IdeaFestival Bowling Green is an annual event at WKU that consists of many speakers as well as interactive activities. The festival has a central focus of inspiring youth in our community to see the value and potential in all of our ideas. Students from numerous schools throughout the area as well as many students from Greenwood attended on March 15.

Interactive activities always tend to be a highlight of the festival. Some of the hands-on activities debuting this year are smartphone microscopes, circle poetry, a coding bar, and a photo booth. In previous years, notable activities have been 3-D pens and a mural open for everyone to contribute to.

Muralist Andee Rudloff has facilitated the mural for the past three years. “Art is not about being a spectator, but about engaging your ideas and soul. My goal is to bring others to art and invite them to paint with me,” says Rudloff.  She is known worldwide for her unique approach to creating art which consists of allowing everyone to contribute ideas. Rudloff paints the black lines on the mural, and then the mural is ready to be filled with an assortment of colors by anyone who wants to be a part of the process.

Many Greenwood students enjoyed the many speakers and interactive activities. Sophomore Sierra Earnhart attended and recalled an activity that allowed you to learn how to hack into computers. “It was interesting to learn more about hacking considering not many people teach you about things like that,” said Earnhart.

Many students found their way to the 3-D pen station. 3-D pens allow you to construct 3-D objects using a pen that melts plastic string, which hardens quickly. Virtual reality was also among the interactive stations. Students who participated in virtual reality got a front row seat to what it would be like to be involved in a fatal car accident due to texting and driving. 

From film directors to the chief executive officer of Young Visionaries Foundation, there is always an assortment of speakers. Kenan Mujkanovic was among the inspirational speakers at the Idea Festival. He is a freshman at Western Kentucky University, and he is the co-founder and CEO of the Young Visionaries Foundation. This foundation provides for children in poverty, and instills the importance of education. Mujkanovic spoke to the the attendees about all of the steps that lead to making an idea reality. All of the speakers were able to share their struggle, and how they eventually succeeded.

Overall the IdeaFestival was a day full of creativity, innovation, and motivation, and students are eager to attend next year.