Here at Morningside, we know that wisdom and experience can help lead to wonderful things. This fall, that spirit of collaboration helped two Trinity University students achieve something remarkable.
Nathaniel Troxel (’27) and Xadrian Huerta (’26) recently won the $45,000 grand prize in the university’s prestigious Stumberg Venture Competition for their invention called the Handidoor, an assistive device designed to make everyday life easier for people with limited mobility.
And we’re proud to share that several of our own residents played an important role in their success!
The Handidoor is a compact device that attaches to the bottom edge of a door and allows it to open and close at the push of a button. Nathaniel was inspired to create it after recovering from a serious car accident that temporarily left him using mobility aids. Remembering how difficult it was to maneuver through doors, he realized that many others face the same challenge. That led him and Xadrian to reach out to Morningside residents for guidance and feedback.
Our Meadows residents, including Doris Read, Joyce and Jack Davis, and Rebecca Burroughs, welcomed the students with open arms, offering insights and testing ideas that helped Nathaniel and Xadrian refine their prototype. During their visits, the students shared how impressed they were by the spirit of our community. “We just want to give a huge thank you to everybody who helped us,” Nathaniel said. “Of all the independent living facilities we visited, Morningside was by far the most welcoming. Everyone at Morningside has been so eager and supportive. It’s been absolutely fantastic.” Xadrian added, “Everyone here really looks out for each other and has fun.”
Our residents were proud to be part of the project and even prouder of the students’ success. “We feel like they’re our grandsons,” said resident Doris Read.
Residents Jack and Joyce Davis and Doris Read, along with our Independent Living Director, Wes Wells, also had the special opportunity to attend the Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition at Trinity University, where they saw firsthand the impact of our community’s support and guidance. They were thrilled to see Nathaniel and Xadrian win the $45,000 grand prize, receiving both the audience vote and the unanimous approval of six business professional judges. The Meadows community later welcomed the students back with a joyful celebration, proudly honoring their incredible achievement. “We’re so excited that we had the opportunity to partner with these two geniuses from Trinity University,” Wes shared.
We are delighted our Meadows community played a role in the Handidoor journey and congratulate Nathaniel and Xadrian on their well-deserved win. We are proud of their achievement and their commitment to creating something that helps make life better for others.
