“My mom was in and out of surgery for my entire junior year,” he recalled. “During that time, I would see how she was using that walker and how unstable it was and how unsafe it is.”

Fearful his mom would get injured, he worked with engineering and entrepreneurship students in our entrepreneurship lab to develop a better walker — complete with obstacle detection and automatic breaking.

“Having people from different majors, we’re all pieces to one big puzzle,” he said.

“Nate is a true entrepreneur. He’s humble, driven and measured in his demeanor,” said Norman Gray, Carlton Highsmith Chair of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “All of these traits will help him to become successful in anything he choses to do.”

Noncent hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy as he begins his next chapter.