A statewide contest for NC · Students grades 5–12 + teachers · June 15 – Oct 15, 2026

The Idea Challenge

Got an idea to help your community? You don’t need experience. You don’t need a teacher leading the way. Just an idea. Every yes unlocks $1,000 on acceptance — and the objectives in your acceptance letter can unlock up to $10,000 more.

✓ Two tracks: students grades 5–12 + teachers.
✓ Rolling submissions June 15 – October 15, 2026.
✓ 3 business days to a yes or no.
✓ ~45 minutes to get started; we provide the AI helper, recorder, and prompts.
✓ Submit a 1–2 minute video — just you, telling us your idea.

How it works (45 minutes)

Spark — chat with an AI that asks questions to help you think.
Forge — write notes for your video, get honest notes back.
Submit — record a 1–2 minute video, hit submit. Done.

How we judge

Real Problem · Original Thinking · Initiative · Heart. Polish doesn’t win. Specificity, sincerity, and lived knowledge of the problem do.

For teachers, counselors & coaches

Nominate a student in two minutes. Run a 45-minute classroom workshop. Or submit your own idea on the teacher track — same prompt, same prize structure. Email us at hello@exponentialscholars.org.