Young Minds and Big Ideas Can Save the Planet

Registration is now open for the 2023 K12 Innovation Challenge!

Are you passionate about the environment and the future? We want to hear your ideas! Think about an environmental issue in your community or the world that concerns you and help address some of our planet’s most pressing environmental issues. The national winner will receive a $5,000 academic college scholarship. 

We’re encouraging students in grades 9–12 to help address some of our planet’s most pressing environmental issues in the K12 Innovation Challenge. Students can work individually or in teams of up to three to design and submit a proposal about their ideas for solutions in one of the six theme areas.  

Themes 

We are challenging students to think big about how to address an issue related to one of these six themes: 

  • Carbon Emissions 
  • Helping People 
  • Our Ocean 
  • Healthy Lands 
  • Freshwater
  • Local Leader 

 Winners and Prizes 

Semi-finalists will receive a trip to present their proposals in Washington, D.C. 

The national winning team will receive a $5,000 scholarship for each team member. 

The people’s choice winning team based on the public vote will receive a Microsoft Surface tablet for each team member. 

Winners will be announced live at 1 PM (ET) on May 10, 2023, via our Facebook page. 

Eligibility 

The K12 National Innovation Challenge is open to all students in grades 9–12. Students enrolled at K12-powered schools as well as students at any other school in the U.S. can submit their proposal to be considered. 

Students can submit a proposal individually, as a pair, or as a team of three. 

Submission Requirements 

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied or created by someone other than the student violates the competition rules and will not be accepted.  

Proposals can be submitted in Word or PPT format. Google word processor and presentation creator are also acceptable. Proposal must be created solely by the Entrant Team. 

Deadline for Entries 

All entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM (ET) on April 22, 2023. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be eligible to win. 

What are you waiting for?! Share your ideas with us on how you would help save our planet!  

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