In Spring 2020, The Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego launched the first-ever Jacobs Institute Changemaker Challenge. This worldwide event, sponsored by Dr. Irwin and Mrs. Joan Jacobs, supported educators and teenagers in developing social good solutions aligned to the UN Global Goals. The competition began with:

• 40+ educators
• 1500+ students
• 3 countries
• 13 US states

1st Place: Go-Green Food Bags

Over 300 million tons of plastic is produced annually. 50% of that plastic is manufactured for single-use purposes. What if you could help the Earth by changing one small thing in your lifestyle?

Introducing Go-Green Food Bags! These may look like your average, reusable food bags, but they’re not. Our Go-Green Bags are hand-made, resuable, 100% eco-friendly, and made from recycled materials.

Created by a 9th grade team with two girls and two boys from Mount Everest Academy and supported by teachers Eric Nielson and Kris Rodenberg.

2nd Place: Idle Reminder

Idle Reminder is a solution to target greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, specifically idling busses. By addressing this issue, they hope to improve air quality and slow the impacts of increased temperatures and rising sea levels making our cities more sustainable.

Created by a 10th-grade team of two girls and two boys from E3 Civic High School and supported by teacher Stephen Cerruti.

4th Place: Gender Equality

Gender Equality is an app designed to protect and provide resources for women, emergency protocols, reporting features, and community building.

Created by Femme, a team of five 9th grade girls from Mount Everest Academy and supported by teachers Eric Nielson and Kris Rodenberg.

5th Place: Life in a Bucket

Life in a Bucket is a bucket that helps filter water, intending this to be used in underdeveloped areas where clean water is not always easily accessible.

Created by a team of 9th graders from Kearny High School of Biomedical Science and Technology and supported by teacher Daina Weber.

• 10th Grade DT Housing 2 – Created by team “10th Grade DT Housing 2” from E3 Civic High School and supported by teacher Luis Marquez (SDG #11)
• Alternative Face Masks – Created by team “Interesting Story” from E3 Civic High School and supported by teacher Jaime Green (SDG #11)
• Bic Mac – Created by team “Big Mac” from Kearny High School of Biomedical Science and Technology and supported by teacher Daina Weber (SDG #6)
• Clean Water Filtration Project – Created by team “StVE” from Frances S. Demasi Middle School and supported by teacher Maria Kruzdlo (SDG #6)
• Life Under Water – Created by team “Life Under Water” from Mt. Everest Academy and supported by teachers Eric Nielson and Kris Rodenberg (SDG #14)
• Mood Tracker – Created by team “Fet’s Luck” from E3 Civic High School and supported by teacher Jaime Green (SDG #11)
• The Awareness Initiative Project – Created by team “The Awareness Initiative ” from Frances S. Demasi Middle School and supported by teacher Maria Kruzdlo (SDG #13)
• The Health Insurance Project – Created by team “Pineapple Juice” from Kearny High School of Biomedical Science and Technology and supported by teacher Daina Weber (SDG #3)
• The Mental Health Project – Created by team “uwu childs” from Frances S. Demasi Middle School and supported by teacher Maria Kruzdlo (SDG #3)
• Wildfire Awareness – Created by team “Sofia, Valeria, Kassandra, and Alexander” from E3 Civic High School and supported by teacher Stephen Cerruti (SDG #11)
• World Puzzle Piece – Created by team “Plant Gang” from E3 Civic High School and supported by teacher Jaime Green (SDG #11)