Calling All Community College Student Innovators!

Do you know a student with an entrepreneurial spirit and an interest in STEM?

The American Association of Community Colleges, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is inviting community college students to participate in the 2025 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC).

The CCIC is a national competition where teams of community college students work with a faculty or administrator mentor to use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to innovate solutions to real-world problems, receive full travel support to attend an Innovation Boot Camp in Washington, D.C., and compete for cash awards.

The Innovation Boot Camp provides professional development, mentoring, and coaching sessions to build strategic communication and entrepreneurial skills to help students advance their innovations in both the public and private sectors. The Boot Camp culminates in a poster session and engagement opportunity with STEM leaders and Congressional stakeholders, and a pitch presentation in front of a panel of industry professionals to determine the first, second, and third place winning teams.

Interdisciplinary teams that include students in STEM, business, humanities, and other fields are encouraged to apply.

DEADLINE: Submissions are due by April 3, 2025.

What can you do?

JOIN: Assemble a student team and become a faculty or administrator mentor.

SHARE: Help us spread the word and join the conversation online! #CCIChallenge2025.

APPLY: Encourage students to learn more or apply at www.aaccinnovationchallenge.com.

For questions, email [email protected].