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Christopher Moeller and his team placed third in the IUPUI Ideas Solving Social and Economic Challenges (ISSEC) competition, the campus’ annual student elevator pitch event. The goal of the competition is to encourage students to propose answers to real-world problems through new approaches, products, services, or ventures.

Moeller, (center) a 3L, worked with a multidisciplinary team made up of School of Public and Environmental Affairs student Abigail Parham (eft) and School of Social Work student Phillip Mitchell (right). The team proposed a program titled “LIRA Loans,” aimed at creating a viable alternative to payday loans that would benefit consumers.

"I originally came up with the idea after taking Stephanie Boys' "Law and Poverty" course and learning of the predatory nature of the payday loan industry," Moeller said. He expanded on the idea while working with SPEA Professor John Clark. The team plans to commercialize this idea and we plan to implement the project in the next few months. Their third-place win nets them $500 with which to launch their idea.

The competition was March 6 in the Lilly Auditorium in University Library on the IUPUI campus.