Trine University's Brett Tierney was honored with a second-place prize in Trine's annual Business Innovation Challenge.  The sophomore defenseman was awarded a $1,000 check for use in his development of products designed to help the monarch butterfly population.

Tierney presented his plan for Milkweed Online, a line of products developed for use in raising and releasing monarch butterflies. Tierney noted in his presentation that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates a 90% decline in the monarch populations since the 1990s. Less than 10% of eggs laid in nature survive.

“Monarchs are beautiful and essential to our ecosystem,” Tierney said.

The Milkweed Online habitat kit is specifically designed for monarch butterflies.

“This is the safest container to ensure that you can see your butterfly turn from an egg to a butterfly without accidentally hurting them,” he said.

An included book by Christie Tierney, "Flutterby, My Butterfly," provides steps on how to raise monarchs.  Christie is Brett's mother and provided inspiration for the project.