Sternheimer Awards
- Funded by Mr. Mark Sternheimer, major benefactor and Foundation Board member
- Awarded to projects exhibiting outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship
- Highly prestigious—last year only 6 applicants received awards
- Excellent opportunity for pitching experience, guidance and exposure
- Judged by representatives from companies in the Greater Richmond area
- Winning teams showcase their team and projects to professionals in the engineering field prior to the Expo.
Key Dates:
- Wednesday, October 8, 2025 – One page proof of concept paper due by 11:59 p.m.
- Friday, October 17, 2025 – Finalists selected
- Friday, November 7, 2025 – A completed application packed due by 11:59 p.m.
- Friday, November 14, 2025 – Finalists presentation to the Sternheimer Award selection committee
- Monday, November 17, 2025 – Sternheimer Award winners notified
VCU College of Engineering Foundation Mark A. Sternheimer, Sr. Design Award Grant Application Process and Timeline
The VCU College of Engineering Foundation is pleased to invite teams to apply for the Mark A. Sternheimer Senior Capstone Design Award. The Sternheimer Award was established in 2012 by Mr. Sternheimer with the intent of promoting innovative and entrepreneurial projects.
Sternheimer Award applications are judged by a committee of representatives from companies in the region and beyond. In addition to potential funding, teams are provided a unique opportunity to showcase their team and projects to professionals in the engineering field prior to the Expo.
The timeline and details for each step of the Sternheimer Award application process are listed below:
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
A one-page proof of concept paper due by 11:59 p.m.
- A summary of the project and its purpose.
- A summary of the innovative nature of the project and/or how it furthers research or development on a particular topic.
- A statement on how the project positively impacts the world in which we live.
Papers should be provided in .pdf format and should be submitted to engrcapstone@vcu.edu Papers that arrive after 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 8 will not be considered.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Teams selected (Finalists) to continue in the granting process will be notified by email and through their faculty advisers.
Friday, November 7, 2025
- A detailed project proposal that includes the title of your project, names of team members, department affiliation(s), and name of faculty adviser(s).
- The proposal should include a detailed abstract that clearly describes the project`s purpose, objectives and methodology for project completion.
- The proposal should address the following areas in detail:
- A summary of the project and its purpose.
- A summary of the innovative nature of the project and/or how it furthers research or development in a particular field.
- A statement on how the project positively impacts the world in which we live.
- Each proposal must include a line-item budget that reflects the total requested award amount.
- Teams are encouraged to include technical details of the current design as well as discussions of any planned analysis, prototyping, and testing activities. Clearly labelled and annotated images, diagrams or figures are encouraged to support the proposal.
- Please review the judging rubric before preparing your submission. Proposals and presentations will be evaluated based on specific categories. Ensure that your submission addresses each of these evaluation criteria.
Friday, November 14, 2025
Finalists will present to the Sternheimer Award selection committee in-person between 9 a.m.–Noon in the Engineering Research Building (ERB), room 1313 (at your designated presentation slot). Presentations should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 via the Google Form (link shared through engrcapstone@vcu.edu).
Presentations should use the following guidelines:
- Presentations are in-person.
- Presentations are no longer than 6 minutes, including questions and answers. It is strongly recommended your presentations be shorter than 6 minutes to allow for at least 3 minutes of Q&A.
- Professional dress is encouraged.
VCU Innovation Gateway has kindly provided the “real world” pitch deck template provided to faculty applying to the VCU Commercialization Fund. You may use this template in part or in full if you desire. Regardless, you may theme your presentation as you see fit (keeping in mind, readability matters!).
Presentations should be provided in .ppt or .pdf format and should be via the Google Form.
Monday, November 17, 2025
Sternheimer Award winners will be notified by email and through their advisers.
Late or incomplete papers/applications will not be considered.
Questions? Please contact engrcapstone@vcu.edu.