Student Events

Grand Challenge Competition

2024 Judy Genshaft Honors College Grand Challenge Competition graphic: "Investigation for Action"

Sponsored by the Richard and Jule Salem Scholars’ Fund for Disability, the Judy Genshaft Honors College Grand Challenge Competition empowers students to create real, feasible solutions to problems facing people with disabilities.  

The winners of the 2024 Grand Challenge Competition will be funded to present their project at a national research conference during the Spring 2025 semester.

Submit Here!

2024 Grand Challenge Competition Theme: Investigation for Action

For the 2024 Grand Challenge, students will create a research poster investigating the experience of someone impacted by disability, explain a barrier they face, and propose a feasible solution.

The poster should include:

  1. An in-depth explanation of the experience of someone impacted by disability. This could be an individual, a family, a community, or another group of people.
  2. A specific physical, social, or institutional barrier for people impacted by disability.
  3. A well-researched proposal for a feasible, actionable solution that addresses at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (more information below).

Disabilities can take many forms: physical, cognitive, age-related, interactional, and more. Therefore, Grand Challenge posters can be focused on a barrier faced by people impacted by any type of disability.

Your proposed solution could be invention, a social program, or any other idea that your team believes will be effective in alleviating the barrier. You should also strive to minimize the costs of your solution, including financial expenditures but also time, space, and other expensive items. The goal is for the solution to be accessible to people at the community level, whether that be Tampa Bay or somewhere across the globe.

Your presentation should intentionally incorporate and address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). It can be any one of the 17 goals. You will not receive more credit for including more than one; instead, you should seek to incorporate whichever goal(s) most clearly and impactfully fit into your project. 

You can find more information about the UNSDGs at this link.

United Nations sustainable development goals graphic

How do I participate in the Grand Challenge? 

Any Honors student from any USF campus may participate in the Grand Challenge as an individual or team of two. You are may adapt or expand upon Honors class projects or start something new. Faculty guidance is recommended. 

  1. As an individual or a team of two, decide what disability experience will be the focus of your project and begin investigating the problems encountered.
  2. From the information you learn, work together to identify a specific problem or barrier and propose a solution that will be effective and minimally expensive to implement.
  3. Research the 17 UNSDGs and decide which goal(s) will be incorporated/addressed in your proposed solution.
  4. Synthesize the information you gathered on your disability experience, the barrier, and your UNSDG-conscious solution proposal into a cohesive research project.
  5. Create your poster and record a 5-minute video presentation. USF JGHC poster templates are found below. Please watch this demonstration of the recording process, and written instructions for the video presentation are as follows:
    1. Complete your poster and assign speaking parts. You should practice presenting your poster clearly and within five to ten minutes before you try to record.
    2. Open a Microsoft Teams meeting with yourself and your partner (if applicable).
    3. Share your screen to display the poster for everyone in the meeting. Make sure that the poster is legible!
    4. Click “Start Recording” in the upper right control panel of the meeting.
    5. Give your presentation. It is NOT required that you are on camera for your presentation, this can be a simple voiceover.
    6. After you are satisfied with your presentation, click “Stop Recording”. Your recording will automatically save to your Microsoft Teams Files.
    7. Go to the Microsoft Teams Files, find the recording, and watch it back/edit it if necessary.
    8. Generate the sharing link for your video by clicking on the three dots to the right of the meeting recording name. Make sure the access is set to “Anyone”!
    9. Copy and paste the share link into the 2024 Grand Challenge Competition Entry Microsoft Form when you are ready to submit.

  6. Submit the 2024 Grand Challenge Competition Entry Microsoft Form by 11:59pm on Monday, November 11, 2024. A link to the submission form is also found at the top of this webpage.
  7. The winner(s) will be notified by November 25, 2024 and will be funded as a Salem scholar to present their project at a national research conference during the Spring 2025 semester! 
Grand Challenge Rubric
  1 2 3 4

Disability Explained

 The focus disability experience is minimally addressed.

The focus disability experience is somewhat explained.

 The focus disability experience is decently explained.  The focus disability experience is explained clearly and in depth.
Problem/Barr-ier Identified Clearly The problem or issue being addressed by the proposal is not clear. The problem is mentioned in the proposal, but it is not well supported or lacks enough evidence to be convincing. The problem statement is clear and some good evidence is provided, but more is needed. This project outlines a well supported problem to which a solution is clearly needed.
Actionable Solution This solution does not seem to be appropriate or feasible. I have several questions, but it is possible that this solution could be implemented and effective. I have some minor questions, but I believe this is feasible, and will effectively address the problem. The solution is thorough, effective, and can be implemented with minimal issues.
UNSDG Incorpor-ation The presentation does not incorporate a UNSDG. The presentation, minimally addresses, 1+ UNSDGs. The presentation adequately incorporates, 1+ UNSDGs. The presentation skillfully incorporates, 1+ UNSDGs.
Poster Optics The poster is disorganized, not aesthetically, pleasing, difficult to read and/or contains multiple mistakes. Poorly represents the project. The poster is somewhat organized and attractive, but does not well facilitate understanding of the project. Minimal mistakes. The poster is organized and attractive, and decently represents a project. Minor concerns regarding displaying information. The poster is well organized, aesthetically pleasing, and facilitates in-depth understanding of the project.
Video Presentation Students are not engaged and ill-equipped to speak about their project. Students are somewhat engaged and able to present the basics of their projects. Students are engaged and able to explain their project well, but more depth, clarity, enthusiasm, etc. is desired. Students are highly engaged and well-versed on the project.
Overall Rating Poor Fair Good Excellent

Information About the 2024 Grand Challenge Competition Prize

The winner(s) of the 2024 Grand Challenge Competition will receive travel funds to attend a national research conference and present a project to an audience of  scholars and professional researchers from all over the nation!

Winners will work with Grand Challenge reviewers to decide which national conference to attend based on the nature of the project. A few examples are listed below. This opportunity is open to any Honors student, and aims to promote conversation regarding disability awareness in the national academic community.

HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR GRAND CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS

Poster Templates

Revisit the 2023 Grand Challenge Competition!

Learn more about last year's Grand Challenge Competition and finalists.