爆料社区

Social Innovation Challenge

The Innovation Hub鈥檚 Social Innovation Challenge is an ideation competition where students or student groups compete to solve real-world problems. The goal of this program is to foster real-life, innovative solutions to specific challenges facing our communities. During the challenge, students or student groups will work as a team to develop an innovative approach, product, service, or program and present their ideas to be judged by a panel of innovative and entrepreneurial experts. The submission is an executive summary document that outlines the problem, solution, and implementation procedures you or your team are addressing (see competition guidelines for submission structure). The Innovation Hub鈥檚 Social Innovation Challenge will award a winning student group and runners up with cash prizes. 

Fall 2025 Challenge

Achieving Justice Through Innovation

The Fall 2025 Social Innovation Challenge invites students to design bold, creative solutions that advance justice, equity, and fairness. This year鈥檚 focus is on addressing real-world barriers鈥攕ocial, economic, educational, legal, or environmental鈥攖hrough innovative and practical approaches that empower communities and promote long-term change. 

Participants will be challenged to deeply understand the root causes of injustice, center community voices, and propose solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and sustainable. Submissions will be evaluated on innovation, feasibility, and impact, with the goal of driving meaningful progress toward a more just and equitable society. 

Fall 2025 Timeline

• Kickoff event will be held on Tuesday, September 16th from 4pm - 5:30pm.
• Submissions are due: Thursday, October 30th, 11:59pm.
• Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, November 4th.
• Finalists will prepare a 3-5 minute presentation for final judging being held at the Innovation Hub on Thursday, November 13th at 4pm - 5:30pm. 

Check Out the Submission Details Here

Meet the Spring 2025 Winners

Challenge: Addressing Basic Needs Through Community-Driven Solutions

The Spring 2025 Social Innovation Challenge invites students or student groups to propose innovative solutions around basic needs. A student perspective is imperative in the pursuit of ideas that are sustainable, innovative, grounded, and relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Kaiah Rivas won first place in the challenge for her proposal of HerHealth Affirmed. From her proposal: The name of my project is HerHealth Affirmed, an in person event held on campus for women to learn strategies that can help prevent and stop medical gaslighting from happening. The event is composed of two things: a community circle and making question cards for attendees to keep. The community circle portion will let women have the opportunity to discuss if they have ever
experienced medical gaslighting. They can share what they did in response and listen to guest speakers. The second portion of the event would be crafting question cards that attendees can refer to the next time they visit a doctor. On one side there will be question outlines such as asking for follow up tests to be done. On the other side there will be a statement that can be read in the instance that the doctor does not want to treat them.

Joshua Hoover was the first runner-ups with his proposal of NeuroStart: An Advocacy and Support Center for Autistic Students. From his proposal: Introducing NeuroStart: An Advocacy and Support Center for Autistic Students鈥攁 comprehensive campus initiative designed to enhance the quality of life for autistic students and support their transition to university. NeuroStart integrates key elements of traditional support groups, one-on-one therapy, and inclusive training, among other resources. By collaborating with existing campus services at 爆料社区, such as Disability Support Services (DSS) and Student Health & Counseling Services (SHCS), NeuroStart aims to expand and strengthen the support network available to autistic students. 

Anali Flores was the second runner up in this challenge with her proposal of "Cougar Thrift". From Anali's proposal: The proposed solution to address the unmet basic need of clothing for college students at California State University San Marcos is a university thrift store鈥� the 鈥淐ougar Thrift.鈥� Inspired by similar social innovations utilized by a couple of universities, such as the University of Chicago (鈥渞eSTORE鈥�), the Lewis & Clark College (鈥淩eUse鈥�), etc. The university thrift store would be run as a regular store, but provide free clothing for current 爆料社区 students.

Learn more about our past challenge winners.

Please review the Competition Guide.