“Student Innovation at the U” is an annual publication celebrating student innovation and impact at the University of Utah. A digital version is available at lassonde.utah.edu/studentinnovation2026. This publication is produced by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business and the hub for student entrepreneurs and innovators at the U. Learn about the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and how to get involved at lassonde.utah.edu.
This publication is managed by staff at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, including:
Scott Holley — executive director, Lassonde Institute
Kathy Hajeb — director, Lassonde Institute; associate professor (lecturer), David Eccles School of Business
Thad Kelling — marketing director, Lassonde Institute
Despina Giannopoulos — marketing coordinator, Lassonde Institute
CONTACT US
Have a question? Want copies? Want to nominate a student to be featured in the next edition? Or want to be a contributor? We want to hear from you! Contact the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at lassonde@utah.edu or 801-587-3836.
STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS
Tom Glasmann — Tom is a theater, games, and English student at the University of Utah. Passionate about telling stories and performing, Tom is an entertainer at heart. In addition to this, he is known around campus for his fun, eccentric personality, and his surplus of business cards.
Sara Hakes — Sara is a senior at the University of Utah majoring in strategic communication and minoring in professional sales and business development. In her free time, she enjoys concerts, coffee, and the outdoors.
Jillian Hall — Jillian is an entrepreneurship major with a passion for creativity. Specializing in photography and graphic design, she brings a unique blend of business acumen and artistic talent to every project. Whether capturing moments through her lens or crafting compelling visual stories, Jillian is dedicated to turning visions into reality.
Sarah Hoare — Coming from North Idaho, Sarah is happy to be here at the U studying product design and environmental science. Outside of her involvement with Lassonde, she also works with the Union Programming Council and is active in various clubs around campus. When not in class or meetings, you can find her baking, dancing, and starting various side quests.
Topher Lloyd — Topher is a recent graduate with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Utah. Passionate about community-building, volunteering, and research, he is involved with many campus initiatives and is always happy to help with a project.
Grace Liou — Grace is a business student at the University of Utah. She is also working towards minors in games and anthropology. She is passionate about game design and learning about other cultures. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and reading.
Zita Lulloff — Zita Lulloff is originally from Wisconsin and moved to Utah to study business. In her free time, she loves photography, running, and skiing.
Mya Oetinger — Mya Oetinger is a marketing student at the University of Utah. She is actively involved at Lassonde Studios as a residential coach and participates in programs like Get Seeded grant and the Make Space. Mya also works in social media marketing where she feels she can be creative and create community.
Mila Pimentel — Mila is a photography and digital imaging major at the University of Utah. She loves anything creative, and she loves getting involved and meeting new people in many different clubs and events at the U!
Juliet Smock — Juliet Smock is a finance major from Franklin, Ind., with an advanced financial analysis emphasis and a management minor in the David Eccles School of Business. Juliet is a contributor with the Master of Business Creation Marketing Agency, where she has learned to foster creativity and communicate with founders to achieve a common goal.
McCall Welling — McCall Welling is a dedicated University of Utah MBA and MSF student, and an active associate at the MBC Marketing Agency. She has a strong passion for continuous learning, exploring new destinations through travel, enjoying diverse cuisines, and connecting with others.
More articles like this in ‘Student Innovation @ the U!’
Find this article and a lot more in the 2026 “Student Innovation @ the U” report. The publication is presented by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to celebrate student innovators, change-makers, and entrepreneurs.
