For someone who didn’t expect to continue his education after high school, Kyle Dimick ’24 certainly has taken advantage of his Plymouth State opportunities. He’ll be representing the University later this year when he travels to a national conference in New Orleans to accept a major award.
Dimick, a business administration major with a minor in pre-law, excelled at the most recent Plymouth State Panther Pitch—an entrepreneurial competition similar to the Shark Tank television program—where he won the Howard Frederick Entrepreneurship Award for first place, and the People’s Choice Award.
His award-winning invention is a Bluetooth automatic nail clipper. It is geared mostly to those who have accessibility issues but can be used by anyone, as he came up with the idea when he was attending physical therapy for a shoulder injury and noticed that some people attend sessions just to have their toenails trimmed.
Dimick is currently setting up an independent study, working with attorneys to file a patent, and refining the prototype with the hope to manufacture and sell the invention. He gets guidance from Angela Watts ’05, who has partnered with Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher on Shark Tank for her Fun Brands LLC company.
“When I originally came up with the prototype I didn’t do it for a prize or competition,” Dimick says. “But when I heard about Panther Pitch I figured I might be able to take the invention to the next level. I thought I had a decent shot but I didn’t think I would win.”
His invention, as well as his numerous other accomplishments, caught the eye of the American Marketing Association (AMA) awards committee. Dimick received the AMA Robert Delay Social Impact Scholarship. Only a dozen collegians every year win the award, given to students who are “making a positive difference at the local, regional or larger community in terms of the environment, social justice, economic fairness, health conditions, quality of life or other social concern.”
“Winning this scholarship is awesome. I am really honored to be chosen for this award,” Dimick says. “This is just the beginning. I have a lot more stuff planned; I want to start my own company to help people with accessibility and motor issues and help them live independent lives.”
Dimick was curious from an early age about how things worked, often taking things apart. He is familiar with what it is like to struggle to do everyday tasks as his mother worked at a variety of service organizations in the Lakes Region while he was growing up.
‘It’s exceptional to do what he’s accomplished,” says Brad Allen, professor of business, and advisor to the Marketing Association of Plymouth State (MAPS), the University’s AMA chapter. “He’s a very selfless person. He’s creative in what he invented and it is wonderful he will be recognized at the national AMA Collegiate Conference.”
Dimick is MAPS vice president and his volunteerism with the group put him over the top for the $3,000 scholarship.
“The AMA Foundation Collegiate Scholarship Committee was particularly compelled by Kyle’s service to his community, including the Teddy Bear Toss toy drive and his dedication to supporting children that are patients at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock,” says Riley Fickett, assistant manager, AMA Collegiate Communities. “We really loved the fact that he has helped put community service at the forefront for the Plymouth State AMA chapter.”
Being recognized is nothing new for Dimick, a Thornton, NH, native. He achieved Summit Rank, the highest honor in the in Boy Scouts of America Venturing program, which was a first for a New Hampshire scout and one of only handful across the country. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was Daniel Webster Council Eagle Scout of the Year.
“I hope to keep building on my accomplishments,” Dimick adds. “I hope to get into MIT Sloan School of Management for my MBA and start my business inventing accessible technologies.”
