The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas has launched its 2025 Innovate for Good competition, a signature initiative of the Girls of Promise® program. This competition challenges girls across Arkansas in grades 6-12 to team up and harness their creativity and tech skills to develop innovative solutions that address community needs. Teams of up to four members are eligible to participate.
Those interested in applying can visit womensfoundationarkansas.org/girls-of-promise/innovate-for-good/ to submit their entries. Teams must declare their “intent to submit” by Dec. 1, 2024, and their final submissions by March 1, 2025.
The theme for the 2025 competition is cybersecurity. Participants are challenged to create an informative, technology-focused Public Service Announcement (PSA) that addresses a specific cybersecurity topic and promotes cybersecurity awareness and action.
“Cybersecurity is a critical issue that affects everyone in our increasingly connected world,” said Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. “The annual cost of cyber attacks amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars globally, impacting both our economy and the privacy and security of individuals. Public awareness is a powerful tool against these threats, making initiatives like Innovate for Good essential in building a more secure digital future.”
Participants are encouraged to think outside the box, using technology to create anything from an app or website to a computer program, 3D printer template or other tech-driven solutions. Each submission must provide a service or directly benefit a community need predetermined by Girls of Promise®.
“The Innovate for Good competition is a unique opportunity for girls to not only engage with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) but to use it as a tool for social good,” said Gorman. “We are excited to see the innovative ideas and solutions this year’s participants will bring to life.”
Five finalist teams will be selected to present their projects in front of a panel of judges at the UA Little Rock Research Expo in April 2025, and the winning team will receive a technology or cash prize.
The Innovate for Good competition is part of the broader Girls of Promise® initiative, presented by Acxiom, which seeks to expose girls to opportunities and mentors in STEAM fields. Through programs like this, the WFA aims to increase the number of women pursuing higher-level STEAM courses and careers, ultimately leading them toward greater economic security.
For more information about the Innovate for Good competition and other Girls of Promise® initiatives, visit womensfoundationarkansas.org.
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