Jumpstart Your Students’ Ideas with a Ciena Solutions Challenge Sustainability Award

As the 2024-25 Ciena Solutions Challenge submission deadline approaches, we’re making a last call to educators around the world to join this special opportunity to spotlight students’ creative ideas and apply for $3,000 U.S. dollars to sustain and scale their projects.

The Ciena Solutions Challenge invites middle and high school students to design solutions addressing real world challenges in their communities. Through March 6, 2025, educators can apply for $3,000 to sustain and scale their projects and have them featured on the Ciena Solutions Challenge online gallery.

The Ciena Solutions Challenge is an opportunity to showcase student creativity and innovation and receive funding to take their projects to the next level. All middle and high school students (ages 11-19) and educators around the world can participate, whether you are in a school classroom, community-based organization, library, museum, or other educational organization.

You can submit all types of student projects that are related to one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals. You can submit student projects at whatever stage they are in—whether a prototype, a project in-progress, or a completed project. Check out the online gallery to see what student projects educators have shared in previous rounds of the Challenge.

1. Register for the Ciena Solutions Challenge at www.cienachallenge.org.
2. Review the Submission Requirements and Judging Rubric to prepare the materials required to apply.
3. Visit your My Submissions page to submit your students’ projects and apply for a $3,000 Sustainability Award. Your application can be saved as a draft and edited up until the submission deadline on March 6.

• Watch the Ciena Solutions Challenge Orientation video to help with submitting your projects.
• Have questions? Email us at cienachallenge@digitalpromise.org.
• Spread the word! Visit the About page to find social media templates, posters, and videos to share the Ciena Solutions Challenge classroom stories with your community.