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Applications Open for Voqal FellowshipLONGMONT, Colo., Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Young innovators with big ideas for social change are invited to apply for the third round of the Voqal Fellowship. The fellowship provides tech-savvy entrepreneurs with the mentorship and resources needed to bring early-stage ideas to life. Aiming to build a pipeline of entrepreneurs committed to social justice and the public good, Voqal launched the fellowship in 2012. It is one of the few fellowships that fund projects in the ideation phase. Members of the 2015 class will join a growing legacy of Voqal fellows who have launched technologies making a difference in the world. Yongjun Heo, a member of the inaugural fellowship class, credits Voqal with helping bring to life Farepath, a technology-based platform for increasing food donations. "The fellowship was crucial," he said. "[Farepath] wouldn't have happened without it." To address shortages in food donations, Heo and his team devised a system allowing students to collect food from neighbors, using a mobile app to coordinate weekly pickups and create competition. Resources provided by Voqal hlped transform Farepath from an idea to a functional platform with a measurable effect on hunger — 3,000 pounds of food were collected during the pilot program's year, along with data being used to have an even greater impact in the future. Heo's drive and innovation are typical of Voqal fellows. "I'm very passionate about social causes," he said. "If I see a potential solution to a problem, I'll think about ways the solution can be implemented." Candidates for the latest round of the Voqal Fellowship must have three to five years of career experience and may not be enrolled in graduate school. Fellows have six months to complete their project and will receive a $30,000 stipend in order to build out an idea that would not be possible to accomplish with a full-time job. Additional stipends may be available to offset health insurance costs for qualifying fellows. Innovate leaders can apply at www.voqal.org/initiatives/voqal-fellowship. Peers may nominate smart and driven candidates by completing a brief nomination form on Voqal's website. The closing date for applications is October 23, 2015. About Voqal Voqal is a collaboration of five nonprofit organizations that work to advance social equity by supporting nonprofit organizations and individuals that use technology and media to build an educated, empowered and engaged public. Voqal provides grants, fellowships, affordable mobile Internet and wireless spectrum advocacy. Media contact:
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/applications-open-for-voqal-fellowship-300155886.html SOURCE Voqal 
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