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. 

Spring 2026 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. 

Spring 2026 Timeline

• Kickoff event will be held: Thursday, February 12, 2pm - 3:30pm
• Submissions are due: Wednesday, March 25, 11:59pm (midnight)
• Finalists will be announced: Tuesday, April 7
• Finalists will prepare a 3-5 minute presentation for final judging to be submitted by Wednesday, April 15, 12pm (noon)
• The presentation event/competition will be held at the Innovation Hub on Thursday, April 16, 4pm - 5:30pm 

Check Out the Submission Details Here

Meet the Fall 2025 Winners

Challenge: Achieving Justice Through Innovation

The Fall 2025 Social Innovation Challenge invites students to design bold, creative solutions that advance justice, equity, and fairness. Participants were challenged to deeply understand the root causes of injustice, center community voices, and propose solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and sustainable.

Sydney Sanchez won first place in the challenge for her proposal of Soul Sister. From her proposal: Soul Sister is an innovation that would help bridge chronically ill college women over the inequalities that they face as a community as it would function differently than the other support systems already active. These systems focus mainly on either financial help or in person assistance, which can be difficult for those with chronic illnesses as flare ups can prohibit them from traveling and meeting with organizations in person. It is necessary to have financial help and nonprofits who specialize in these social issues. Often there is an overlook of the community's support for one another and the need for autonomy. For many women, chronic illness has left them chronically fatigued and with so little precious energy they need sources and a system that can come to them and be easy to navigate.

Marissa Harper was the first runner-up with her proposal of Project Open Minds. From her proposal: Project Open Minds is a small, outdoor campus event open to all students where they can freely try out mobility aids brought in by disabled students and the community. It would feature volunteer disabled students who are there to talk about their stories about living with a disability and share their knowledge. These conversations and physical handling of the mobility aids would create a casual understanding of what it is like to use a mobility aid and to allow people to understand the experience of a disabled person. The goal of Project Open Minds is to address the unmet need of understanding, respect, and integration that disabled students need in their lives. Disabled college students desire for their peers to understand, respect, and integrate them into their lives. They do not wish to be treated with aversion or excessive sympathy.

Isaac Hernandez, Renee Plascencia, Aggie Casadont and Lauren Moran were the second runner-up in this challenge with their proposal of Paw Packs. From the group's presentation: Many students experience hunger and insufficient nutrition throughout the day. Hunger negatively impacting students' energy, focus and academic performance. Our solutions include: Providing students with quick, accessible, and free meal options. Support and improve academic performance across all levels. Decreased student absence through better nutrition accessibility. Improved student engagement and concentration in class.

Learn more about our past challenge winners.

Please review the Competition Guide.