By Zoe Schantz
The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is proud to recognize Jordyn Wilcox (’25, College of Communications, Arts and Sciences) as the 2024-25 Kelly A. Ford Technology Scholar. Otaku’s Oasis: Anime and Gaming is East Lansing's premier destination for anime lovers and gamers alike. Their lounge hosts a variety of events that invite you to engage with your favorite fandoms.
Kelly Ford (‘94, Communications) established the scholarship in 2021 because of her passion for the Burgess Institute’s work. She wishes to support the next generation of Spartan entrepreneurs. The Kelly A. Ford Technology Scholarship is intended to encourage students who have demonstrated the capacity to set educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve them, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their startups’ progress.
A Lifelong Passion
Wilcox grew up in Detroit and later moved to Farmington Hills. Her upbringing shaped her creativity and resilience. From a young age she was exposed to different cultures after being required to learn Spanish and Chinese in elementary school. "I was not good at learning the language, but I loved learning about the culture," she shared.
Wilcox recalls how her love for video games started with her love of Anime as a kid. "I would go home after school each day and watch Pokemon. My parents bought me a Nuntendo DS when I turned six and the first game I played that wasn't from LeapFrog was Pokemon: Pearl. From that point on, I loved playing video games.”
Pursuing Entrepreneurship with Purpose
With hard-working parents as role models, Wilcox was inspired to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. “Growing up as a latchkey kid, I sometimes felt frustrated as to why my parents worked so much. As an adult, I appreciate their sacrifices for me,” she explained. She continued to appreciate the hard work her parents put in to allow them to live in a better neighborhood, attend better schools, and help put Wilcox through college.
Her entrepreneurial journey, built on gratitude and determination, reflects a down-to-earth view of entrepreneurship. “Being an entrepreneur to me just means to forge your own path… Nothing moves unless you move it. It’s not something I view in a glamorous sense,” she said. “When people hear ‘entrepreneur’ they think of penthouses and fast cars but that's a fallacy, the local bakery owner is an entrepreneur, the girl that braids hair in the dorms is an entrepreneur. I would consider myself an entrepreneur since I am creating something out of nothing and getting something out of it.”
Support and Growth at the Burgess Institute
Joining the Burgess Institute in February, Wilcox has experienced substantial growth, particularly through the MOMENTUM Pre-Accelerator Program. "The Burgess Institute programs and resources have allowed me to grow in ways I wouldn’t have imagined. I can’t thank the faculty enough for their support,” Wilcox shared. “I worked really hard this summer while in the [MOMENTUM Pre-Accelerator] program and I feel much more grounded than I did before.”
Another key resource for Wilcox has been The Hatch. "It is very nice to be able to go to a co-working space with other like minded people pursuing their own goals. Even if I don’t talk to the other founders in the space, I feel motivated by just being around them,” shared Wilcox.
A Vision for the Future
Being named the 2024-25 Kelly A. Ford Scholar is confirmation to Wilcox that she is on the right path "Being a Kelly A. Ford Scholar means to be a doer. Dreamers are everywhere, everyone can be a dreamer but not everyone is a doer," she said.
Looking forward, Wilcox plans to expand on Otaku’s Oasis: Anime and Gaming. "My plans are to keep putting my all into my venture. I graduate in May… I am thinking about pursuing a Master’s degree because I enjoy school so much.”
As Wilcox approaches graduation she is excited for the future that lies ahead in both her education and with her venture, Otaku’s Oasis: Anime and Gaming. Hoping to one day soon open up a storefront in the East Lansing or Farmington Hills area.
More information about Jordyn and Otaku’s Oasis: Anime and Gaming is available at https://www.otakusoasisanimegaming.com/.