Congratulations 2025 EcoChallenge Winners!
Extreme Winners
1st: A Sustainable Future, Bellvue, WA & randolph, NJ
Carolyn He
Tara Saini
Dhruv Saini
2nd: The Green Spark, lafayette, CA
Carter Considine
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3rd – TIED! Monarchs Matter, great neck, NY
Cynthia Zhang
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3rd – TIED! Project Super Plants, San mateo, CA
Harper Fortgang
The Nueva School
Alyssa Tang
Proof School
Clara Hause-Stephenson
Notre Dame High School Belmont
Jade Wen
The Bay School of San Francisco
Timothy Lee
Summit Shasta High School
Black Diamond Winners
1st – Project ARISE, san diego, CA
Sophie Zeng
2nd – a taste of home, vienna, VA
Hunter Guthrie
3rd – sunny lots, glendale, CA
Alfred Isagoli
Luke Scherrer
Jayden Tanner
Blue Square Winners
1st – little fixers, big hearts, truckee elementary, Truckee, Ca
Ms. Reid’s 2nd Grade Class:
Rafael Aguirre Avila
Valerie A. Bautista Ceja
Franco Bolanos Castillo
Alba J. Cota Alcaraz
Lily A. Dailey
Hunter J. Devlin
Emiliano Diaz Serna
Axel Manuel Gastelum Felix
Tallac A. Hawkins
Vanesa Huizar Martinez
Luka Mora
Arianna Moreno
Axel S. Padilla Salazar
Thiago Rodriguez Luna
Alexandra C Schroeder
Wade L. Steward
Landon M. Troxel
Ivanna Vallin Rodriguez
Abigail J. Zarate
2nd – School Service Association (SSA), Glenshire elementary, Truckee, CA
Noah Oriol
Quinn Singer
3rd – RHS Ecology Club, roosevelt high school, fresno, CA
Taylor Lopez
Eliese August
Kamilla Albarran
Jaden Wondergem
Karine August
Robert Gomez
Sydney Galaviz
Green Circle Winners
1st – eco-action club, SWEP, Tahoe city, CA
Remi Mitchell
Izzy Kossman
Julio Ramirez
Andy Lech
Syrus Hansen
Eva Lewis
Ellie Stefani
Zella Gill
2nd – 5th grade environmental rock band musical, truckee elementary, truckee, ca
Luke Blaschke
Zohra Collins
Damian Cruz-Tafolla
Gael Felix Delgadillo
Bode Francis
Colin Garritson
Yuki Gomez
Jacob Herrera Gonzalez
Leo Lerza
Sammy Lopez-Diaz
Rosa Pillado
Jacob Rohe
Alberto Magdaleno Barron
Piper Story
Gwynn Terrell
Maverick Van Roo
Nico Zarete
Angel Santana Colmenares
Jesse Gutierrez
Leonie Kratzert
Leo Schroeder
3rs – up-cyclers, SWEP, truckee, ca
Rory Wallach
Serafina Varisco
CHECK BACK SOON FOR DETAILS ON EACH PROJECT!
Shane McConkey Ecochallenge
Projects Due by Earth Day.
The Shane McConkey EcoChallenge empowers young people to learn about environmental issues in their community, engage in critical thinking to identify innovative solutions, and take action as EcoChallengers for the planet. Enter by April 22, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.
STEP 1: REGISTER YOUR TEAM
We are so excited that you are joining our EcoChallenge! Register your team so we can send you updates, reminders, and encouragement.
STEP 2: SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT
Have you completed your EcoChallenge project? That is great news. Submit your project below. Be sure to include photos and videos of your team!
CLEAN UP YOUR SCHOOL
CLEAN UP A WATERWAY
Create Art
protect wildlife
Inspire others
Plant some trees
Entering is Easy!
We launched the EcoChallenge eight years ago to support up-and-coming environmental thinkers with the global understanding, geographic knowledge, and skills to solve our world’s most pressing problems.
- Choose an environmental issue
- Work as a team or on your own
- Enlist an advisor (teacher, parent, local leader)
- Create a plan to address your chosen issue
- Put your plan into action
- Report results via a super simple online form
- Winners announced in May!
BONUS: Students who submit great photos and video of their team and project will receive an additional prize!
Win $27,250 in Prize Money
Awards for the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge will be judged in following categories. The extent to which you take your action plan will determine how your project is judged and rewarded. Individuals may enter and teams will be limited to groups/classrooms of no more than 30 students.
Extreme EcoChallengers
An Extreme EcoChallenge project addresses a large-scale environmental issue and provides a solution that disrupts the status quo. These projects will change our world for the better.
1st Place wins $5,000
2nd Place wins $4,000
3rd Place wins $3,000
Advanced EcoChallengers
These challengers are true battle-born eco-warriors with ninja-like skills at fighting climate change. They will stop at nothing to engage their community and community leaders get involved with their problem-solving initiative, taking action to make change a reality. Black Diamond Challengers are not afraid to call on local governmental agencies, the media, and influential voices to make their problem heard. These Challengers know their end game and fight to make positive change a reality.
1st Place wins $4,000
2nd Place wins $3,000
3rd Place wins $2,000
Intermediate EcoChallengers
These EcoChallengers are eager to make the world a better place and are serious about generating tangible results from their actions. They apply research and data to prove their problem exists and they weave their findings into their action plan. They are deeply involved in generating awareness and support from their school, community, and environmental influencers to see their plan through with measurable results.
1st Place wins $2,000
2nd Place wins $1,500
3rd Place wins $1,000
Beginner EcoChallengers
A Green Circle EcoChallenger can be an individual or team. These projects can be as simple as an art project created from upcycled materials, or a poem written to shed light on an environmental issue close to the Eco Challenger’s heart. This level offers kids a space to express their concern, love and commitment to the environment through whatever medium speaks to them.
1st Place wins $1,000
2nd Place wins $500
3rd Place wins $250
* Prize money will be delivered to the winner’s school or nonprofit organization of choice. Prize money cannot be delivered to individuals.
Every entry makes a world of difference
Every student who enters the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge is a winner because they have thought critically and creatively about their environment and taken an action to make a difference. From upcycled art projects to beach cleanups; composting initiatives to banning styrofoam in their cafetierias; our EcoChallengers have done some wonderful things. What will you do?
benefits of entering the Ecochallenge
Join the Cycle of Awesomeness!
Each year, we’ve been inspired by the ingenuity and creativity of young people around the country and we are energized to continue our momentum as there’s still more work to do to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
Watch the process In One Class:
Thank you, Encinitas Day School and Mr. decking Our 2019 Third Place Winners!
Thank you to our EPIC sponsors. We couldn't do this without you.
