Inspire future generations
Bright Spark® is part of Bridge Innovate's Innovation for Good® programming and is designed to ignite creative confidence in students and educators using design thinking.
Bright Spark® offers innovation competitions for students 4th grade through 12th grade to build design skills such as empathy, creative problem-solving, prototyping, and pitching.
Students interested in STEAM and entrepreneurship compete in Bright Spark competitions to expand their design skills and innovation portfolio.
Students also gain exposure to industry and education leaders such as FEMA, IBM, Ford Motors, Georgia Tech, and Morehouse College, serving as advisors and judges.
Invention Challenge
Students use the design thinking process to identify a real-world problem, empathize, ideate, and prototype a physical invention.
This year, we asked: “How might we design new ways of learning that use technology to help students reach their full potential, build stronger connections, and make a positive difference in the world?”
Graphic Design Challenge
Students put their design skills to the test to create an original graphic design artwork that responds to a prompt.
Last year, we asked the question: "How Might We… inspire our community to get active?'"
Look for announcements in the Spring of 2026 for our next Graphic Design Challenge.
Resources
Innovation tools for all bright sparkers
The Bright Spark resources are designed for students and educators to facilitate learning of design thinking.
The resources include curated tools and professional development programs to develop fundamental skills of observing, brainstorming, prototyping, and acquiring creative confidence.
2025 Invention Challenge Judges Panel
Greg Bagby, EdTech / AI Leadership Consultant and Keynote at Greg Bagby Consulting
Amanda Maxfield, Director of Membership Engagement at The Knoble
David Turner, VP of Design & Business Innovation at Techmer PM
Steve Smallman, Founding Partner & Chief Strategist at Fifteen4
Neha Mardi, Innovation Manager at Shaw Industries.
Meet the Winners of the 2025 Bright Spark® Invention Challenge
Check out the winning submissions from the Fall 2025 Bright Spark® Invention Challenge!
Best Overall: Elementary
Invention: “Tranquility Table”
Student(s): Mia Radilla, Aracely Ramirez, Zuleyka Garcia
School: Hopkins Elementary School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ana Juarez
Best Overall: Middle
Invention: “InnovaDesk”
Student(s): Mahrosh Rasool
School: Pristine Private School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ambreen Razi
Best Overall: High
Invention: “WaveBuds”
Student(s): Oona Cristina Romualdez, Siheli Nulara, Mariyah Khan
School: Pristine Private School
Teacher / Sponsor: Suriyapriya
Most Creative
Invention: “Holo Class”
Student(s): Harshit Chaturvedy
School: Forsyth Central High School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ritesh Kumar
Best Prototype
Invention: “Edusphere”
Student(s): Shreyash Sanjay, Harshithaa Balaji, Omisha Hegde
School: Delhi Private School, Sharjah
Teacher / Sponsor: Veena Mohanan
Special Recognition | Human Centerered Design Award
Invention: “Adjusted Learning”
Student(s): Jude McKeehan and Braden Knauth
School: East Hamilton Middle School
Teacher / Sponsor: Abigail Klett
Special Recognition | Design For Impact Award
Invention: “Empowered Education”
Student(s): Boakye Tweneboa Kodua
School: North Clayton Middle School
Teacher / Sponsor: Brittney Blackwell
People's Choice Recognition: Elementary
Invention: “Schooling Online”
Student(s): Alex Tsotskolauri and Anson Tran
School: Hopkins Elementary School
Teacher / Sponsor: Ana Juarez
People's Choice Recognition: Middle
Invention: “AVAI”
Student(s): Atharv Johari,
Veer Singh Kukreja
School: Delhi Private School, Sharjah
Teacher / Sponsor: Namita Saxena
People's Choice Recognition: High
Invention: “WaveBuds”
Student(s): Oona Cristina Romualdez, Siheli Nulara, Mariyah Khan
School: Pristine Private School
Teacher / Sponsor: Suriyapriya
2025 Bright Spark Engagement
186+ Submissions
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548+ Registrants
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9 Countries Participating
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186+ Submissions • 548+ Registrants • 9 Countries Participating •
Invest in the next generation of innovators.
Year on year, sponsor feedback is extraordinary at highlighting the value received in terms of personal inspiration, new innovative ideas, as well as the joy from seeing the students grow their creative capacity.
Some sponsors see the competitions as a talent development opportunity and have offered internships to select college and high school students.
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Contributing Sponsor
Awards Program Sponsor
Teacher Leadership Award Sponsor
Student Team Spirit Pack Sponsor
Teacher Appreciation Sponsor
District Scholarship
Team Scholarship
Make a general contribution
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Gain unfiltered student inspiration for new products and services
Build your brand for investing in youth
Meet social responsibility goals by investing in the future creative generation
Engage in a new channel for recruiting talent and interns
Build design thinking within your team by coaching others
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Benefits to participants
For Students
Build creative confidence through solving real-world challenges
Collaborate with diverse teams and professionals
Spark potential internship and career opportunities
For Schools
Build student and educator creative confidence
Build stronger citizenship skills by providing opportunities to create community and business solutions
95%
Reported high use of critical thinking
91%
Reported high use of problem-solving skills
95%
