The winning ideas so far.

A translation app that converts text to American Sign Language and back, to bridge communication gaps for deaf people.

“The prototype you developed and shared on screen worked very well to express how this could work. I can understand the complexity of doing this for ASL, where video and visual inputs are needed. This could be very impactful to a large community.”— from a judge

An agriculture teacher wants to send student officers in a club to a national convention, for the leadership experience and for the ideas they'll bring home.

“Nice work identifying opportunities that help with the leadership development of your students. Leadership development has ripple effects on the rest of the community.”— from a judge

A web portal where families of students with special needs share daily updates with the special education teacher: mood, food, schedule changes, anything needing extra attention.

“The passion and real experience you and your family have for this solution shows. You defined the problem, the consequences, and the ideas for your solution very clearly.”— from a judge

A free AI tool that generates interactive video lessons on any topic, works offline, and is available in seven languages, with plans to pilot.

“You've already done something unusual and amazing: you moved from personally experiencing a problem to actually building and testing a solution. I also love your proposed first step of putting the tool directly in students' hands and improving it based on what they tell you.”— from a judge

A CTE (career + technical education) teacher needs seed inventory for the student-run school store already open in her building, where students are learning business and soft skills.

“What stood out most is that this is not just an idea on paper — the marketplace is already live, student-centered, and built around learning by doing. I especially appreciated how much ownership students are given: they are not simply participating in a program, but creating, selling, managing, and leading something that directly responds to the needs of the county.”— from a judge

A weekly newsletter that distills local government news into short summaries so residents can follow what's happening where they live.

“This is a really great idea! You've done an excellent job identifying a need in your local community, and I love that in the future the idea could expand beyond your town to help other communities too. You've done a nice job outlining the steps you've already taken and the impact you've already had.”— from a judge

An app for teens to signal their mood and energy level to their parents when they come home from school, so they can recharge before the well-intentioned parent questions start.

“The moment you called out to kids — “does this feel familiar, when you walk in the door your parents start asking you…” — was compelling and realistic. When you explained that kids often come home with feelings they can't put into words, I was nodding along, because that is concrete and real.”— from a judge

A high school counselor wants to pair older students with incoming ninth graders, so every new student starts with a guide.

“I love the student-to-student design of this idea: it creates a real multiplier effect while also developing the mentors themselves as leaders. The comment from a former freshman who now wants to become a mentor is especially compelling evidence that the model can reinforce itself over time.”— from a judge

A community program where trained mediators help teens and families work through conflict in neutral spaces, to reduce the number of teens who run away.

“You did a great job describing the problem and need here, and you were so thoughtful about particular details — letting teens initiate the requests, choosing neutral locations for mediation, and mentioning mandatory reporting. That last part especially shows a lot of maturity and understanding about the limits of peer and community mediation without professionals. Great job!”— from a judge

A searchable statewide site for career and internship openings, so every North Carolina high schooler has the same access regardless of where they live.

“A clear explanation that acknowledges the issue and how your idea would address the need for better career awareness for high schoolers. I love that you took the kernel of this idea from your bill and are continuing to push it forward via the Idea Challenge — that tells me you're passionate about it!”— from a judge

A community water-saving campaign, Morganton Water Saver, that posts simple, easy-to-read signs with everyday conservation tips — turning off the tap while brushing, taking shorter showers — to help a town under water restrictions cut its daily use.

“The idea is clear and well defined, addresses a situation that is relevant “right now,” and your solution is feasible and straightforward.”— from a judge

A speech and debate club where students learn to articulate and defend their ideas with confidence and evidence — starting with foundational skill-building and guest speakers rather than competition, to build communication skills that matter for college and career.

“You are proposing a great idea that has ripple effects on a big positive community change. It's clear how the speech and debate club could help students today and in the years to come build and improve communication skills, and your perspective on how to get started is pragmatic and reasonable.”— from a judge

PathWalk, an accessibility-focused navigation app for Wake County that routes people around barriers like missing sidewalks, stairs, and construction — letting users report and verify obstacles, built with input from people with mobility disabilities.

“This is a much needed tool. It reminds me of Waze for traffic, but for sidewalks! The crowd-sourcing element here is also interesting: I love the idea that you're getting real-time data from users.”— from a judge

The Granville Clear Water Initiative, which gives residents in towns with discolored, foul-smelling tap water free filtered pitchers so they can safely drink at home, plus free testing kits — easing a hardship that hits low-income families hardest.

“Your story about improving water quality is powerful. Your community deserves better, and you're taking steps in the right direction.”— from a judge

Quarterly celebrations that recognize all kinds of student achievement — not just the honor roll — with a cafeteria celebration wall run by student ambassadors, special meals, and two family curriculum nights with dinner, to help students in a rural, under-resourced school feel seen and families feel connected.

“You state the need clearly, and then propose three wonderful and specific ideas to build school culture: a quarterly student celebration with breakfast, a celebration wall run by student leaders, and a curriculum night with dinner. As a former high school teacher myself, I know the importance of these cultural events at bringing a community together and making people feel seen and connected. I also love that you're going to celebrate different kinds of success, not just the top of the class (e.g., most improved, perfect attendance, and teacher shout-outs for growth). Wonderful to recognize that kids work hard in ways a traditional honor roll might never capture.”— from a judge

A shared maker cart — a roving community supply station where teachers and students borrow materials like poster paper, foam letters, and glue, and return what they don't use — easing an art-supply shortage while building belonging across the school.

“The idea is novel, special, and makes students and staff feel welcome. It is something you want to do but it isn't happening yet. I love how you extend the idea from “supply cart” to building community and role modeling hospitality across the school community.”— from a judge