Vermont Small Business Development Center Celebrates Winners of Statewide Student Innovation Challenges

RANDOLPH, Vt. — June 11, 2025— The Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 Student Innovation Challenges, a series of statewide competitions that empowered high school students to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial thinking — all while staying grounded in this year’s unifying theme: “Community First.”

Designed to encourage students to think about how business and innovation can strengthen local communities, the competitions included four unique challenges: the Darn Tough Challenge, the Bumper Sticker Design Challenge, the Video Pitch Challenge, and the Business Ideation Challenge. Students from across Vermont were invited to participate, submitting projects that demonstrated originality, purpose, and a clear connection to the theme.

“This year’s theme, Community First, asked students to think beyond profits and products to focus on the people and places that make Vermont special,” said Tamie-Jo Dickinson, Specialty Advisor/Student Entrepreneurship of VtSBDC. “The submissions we received reflect a remarkable blend of creativity, empathy, and forward-thinking that gives us great hope for the future of small business and community leadership in our state.”

Challenge Overviews and Winning Focus Areas:

Winners were selected in each category based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and clarity of their concept. Entries were submitted from high schools across the state, representing a wide range of perspectives and regional insights.

“These student-focused challenges are part of VtSBDC’s broader mission to support entrepreneurial education and youth engagement across Vermont,” said Linda Rossi, State Director. “By encouraging students to explore how business can be a force for good, VtSBDC is helping to plant the seeds for a future where innovation and community go hand in hand.”