The Paradigm Challenge accepts student ideas until May 1, 2027. Young people aged 4–18 can enter individually or in teams to address real problems. The $100,000 grand prize is a team maximum: a winning team with fewer than four qualifying members receives $25,000 per member under the rules. This is a cash-prize competition rather than guaranteed college tuition funding.
About Project Paradigm
Project Paradigm operates the competition and invites creative solutions involving kindness and collaboration. The official programme website explains the project areas and learning resources. U.S. and international students can participate, subject to the geographic and other restrictions in its rules.
| Deadline | May 1, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Age range | 4–18 on submission |
| Entry format | Individual or team |
| Fee | No purchase required |
| Selection | Judged competition |
How cash prizes work
The official rules distinguish team totals from individual amounts. Teams with at least four qualifying members share $100,000 if they win the grand prize. First, second and third place team prizes are $10,000, $2,000 and $1,000. Smaller teams receive 25% of the applicable team amount per qualifying member.
The programme selects at least 100 finalist entries, with smaller finalist awards and certain finalist experiences in its published framework. Read the rules before calculating a payout. In particular, an individual grand-prize winner should not budget for the entire advertised $100,000 team maximum.
Who can enter?
Every member must qualify. The oldest team member determines the age division: 4–8, 9–13 or 14–18. Parental or guardian permission is required. Specified U.S.-sanctioned locations and places where entry is legally prohibited are excluded, along with people connected to competition administration.
Check ages on the intended submission date. Someone turning 19 before submission can affect the whole team’s eligibility, so settle this before dividing responsibilities or committing to a presentation schedule.
What ideas can students submit?
The current project areas cover home fires, waste reduction, personal health, food security and biodiversity. Accepted formats include posters, videos, inventions, public messages, community events, websites and apps. Judging considers effectiveness, feasibility, originality, clarity and collaboration.
Choose a manageable problem. A waste project might identify a repeated source of discarded material at school and propose a measurable change. Explain who would use the solution, how it would work and which resources it needs. Separate observations you have measured from benefits you expect.
A useful development checklist asks three questions: can someone unfamiliar with the project understand the problem; is there a clear reason this approach could help; and does the presentation show what your team contributed? These are editing suggestions, not extra official eligibility conditions.
What entry materials are needed?
Prepare a team name, member information, a short idea statement, category and explanation. Entries must be in English. Supporting files or video links can clarify the idea. Follow the provider’s privacy restrictions for public material and avoid publishing home addresses or government identifiers.
Keep your own sketches, versions and observations. Verify permission for any outside images or material. A polished demonstration is useful only if readers can understand what it proves and what remains a proposed improvement.
How to enter
- Read the overview and rules with a parent or guardian where appropriate.
- Open the official entry platform.
- Select a project and develop an original solution.
- Complete the entry fields and review the supporting files.
- Submit before the deadline, which the rules label 11:59 p.m. PST on May 1, 2027.
Submit early enough to resolve an incomplete upload. Keep confirmation and monitor the registered contact address. The rules permit multiple entries; prioritise a clear, complete explanation over rushing out unfinished versions.
Related student funding
Compare Equitable Excellence, Daniels and Moving Mountains. Their award criteria differ.
Frequently asked questions
Can a student enter alone?
Yes. Smaller-team prize rules apply.
Must the idea be an invention?
No. Several creative formats are accepted.
Does every entrant receive funding?
No. Prizes depend on competitive selection.