The Student Impact Challenge provides high school students making an impact in their community with an opportunity to share their talents, validate and refine their ideas, and gain experience. This year’s competition is presented by The Allstate Foundation, which empowers youth to serve their communities and create positive change.
Watch selected finalists compete live before a panel of industry experts in the Student Impact Challenge on Wednesday, March 6 on the Next Stage in the SXSW EDU Expo. Following the live competition, join us for ice cream and the winner announcement at the Student Impact Ice Cream Social.
High School students are encouraged to complete the online application process to be considered as a finalist for the Student Impact Challenge.
Tuesday, August 8 | Application Opens
Friday, October 27 | Application Closes
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a currently enrolled high school student and 13 years or older in order to be considered.
- Both U.S. and international applicants are eligible.
- Solo and team applicants qualify.
- Proposed solutions must be past the ideation stage and must be in active development.
- Proposed solutions must be seeking to solve social challenges that resonate in communities at a local, regional, national, or international level, regardless of project scale.
Finalists
- Receive 6 complimentary credentials to SXSW EDU 2024 (2 for the student presenters, and the remaining 4 for adult chaperones and additional team members).
- Pitch live to an audience of educators, investors, and changemakers on the Next Stage in the SXSW EDU Expo for the opportunity to win the “Student Impact Award.”
- Have access to coaching sessions with savvy innovators selected by SXSW EDU to help participants refine and perfect their pitch.
Semifinalists
- Receive 6 complimentary credentials to SXSW EDU 2024 (2 for the student presenters, and the remaining 4 for adult chaperones and additional team members).
- Have access to coaching sessions with savvy innovators selected by SXSW EDU to help participants refine their project idea and develop a pitch in the event that a finalist team is unable to participate.
- Opportunity to showcase project idea to a live audience of educators, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators on the Next Stage in the SXSW EDU Expo.
Student Impact Award:
This award is given to the Student Impact Challenge’s grand prize winner. The recipient of this award impressed the judges as the top project with its innovative solution to a clear problem, strong execution plan, proof of concept, potential, and unique perspective of the team.
For frequently asked questions and answers, check out the Student Impact Challenge FAQ.
This is the inaugural year of the Student Impact Challenge. But you can learn more about past student competitors and winners at SXSW EDU on our history page.