Competitive Events

High School Topics:

Broadcast Journalism
Spotlight on Success: How Local Businesses Strengthen Communities
Create a broadcast news story highlighting how a local business is making a positive impact in
your community through innovation, workforce development, or community involvement. Plan
your coverage like a real journalist by researching the business, interviewing an owner,
employee, or community member, capturing video footage, and presenting a compelling story
that informs and engages your audience.
How does this business contribute to the local economy and improve the community it serves?
Use your reporting to showcase the business's impact and inspire viewers to recognize the
important role local businesses play in building strong communities.
The pre-recorded story must be no longer than two minutes.

 

Business Ethics
Business Ethics: Maintaining Stakeholder Trust During a Food Safety Crisis.
Food safety incidents can have significant consequences for customers, employees,
suppliers, investors, regulators, and the communities organizations serve. Competitors will
examine how business leaders should respond when public health, operational decisions,
financial stability, and stakeholder trust are all at risk. They should analyze the ethical
responsibilities involved, consider the impact on key stakeholders, and develop
recommendations that demonstrate transparency, accountability, and sound decision-making
during a food safety crisis.
Refer to pages 9–10 of the Business Ethics Guidelines for the full Background Information and
Topic.

 

Coding & Programming
Serving the Community: Nonprofit Volunteer Management
Nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to support programs, events, and community
initiatives. Effectively managing volunteer information, service opportunities, schedules, and
participation can help organizations operate more efficiently and increase their impact.
Use your programming skills to develop a program that helps nonprofit organizations recruit,
organize, and manage volunteers and community service activities. Your program may be a
command-line application, desktop application, or interactive interface. Choose the platform
that best demonstrates your programming skills.
Your solution should help nonprofit organizations coordinate volunteers, manage service
opportunities, maintain records, and monitor participation while supporting the needs of
both volunteers and organization leaders.

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Computer Game & Simulation Programming
Road to the Championship
Players take control of a high school athletic team with one goal: win the state championship.
Throughout the season, they must recruit and develop athletes, manage practices and
resources, maintain team morale, respond to unexpected challenges, and make strategic
decisions that influence performance on and off the field.
Create a game or simulation that challenges players to build a successful program while
balancing competition, leadership, planning, and long-term team development.
How will strategic decision-making help your team overcome obstacles and achieve
championship success?

 

Data Analysis
From donating food to giving blood, there have never been more ways to support our
communities.
Flinders Street Technology is a fictional technology services provider organized as a Public
Benefit Corporation, operating in the United States and 31 other countries. Flinders Street
Tech is developing a Social Impact Plan for the communities it serves in the US. It wants to
understand how formal and informal volunteering, charitable giving, and other measures of
social engagement have changed over time across the US.
Using the data provided and your own research, identify relevant trends and recommend
priorities for the plan.
• 2023 CEV
• 2021 CEV
• 2019 CEV
• 2017 CEV
• Previous CEV data is available from the US Census Bureau.
Note: Some information provided may not necessarily be useful in your analysis; you do not
need to use all the information provided.

 

Digital Animation
From Start to Finish: The Journey of a Product
Create an animated video that tells the story of how a product travels from raw materials to
the hands of a customer. Your animation should illustrate the key stages of the product's
journey, including sourcing materials, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, retail, and
the final customer experience.
How do people, technology, and transportation work together to bring everyday products to
consumers?

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Digital Video Production
The Power of Community: Stories That Inspire
Produce a documentary-style video that tells the story of a person, organization, business, or
community initiative making a meaningful difference in your local community. Through
interviews, video footage, and thoughtful storytelling, showcase the challenges they face, the
work they do, and the positive impact they have on the people they serve.
How can one story inspire others to become involved and make a difference?

 

Financial Planning
Rebuilding Financial Security: The Smith Family’s Future
The Smith family is working to rebuild financial security after a period of unemployment,
reduced household income, unexpected expenses, and increased credit card debt. With one
child preparing to attend college, aging-parent care responsibilities, limited emergency
savings, and retirement and insurance concerns, the family must balance several competing
financial priorities. They are seeking guidance on improving cash flow, rebuilding savings,
reducing debt, preparing for college and future caregiving expenses, increasing retirement
contributions, and strengthening their overall financial protection.
Refer to the guidelines for the full topic.

 

Financial Statement Analysis
Analyzing Costco’s Financial Performance: Insights for Long-Term Success
Costco Wholesale Corporation, one of the world's leading membership-based warehouse
retailers, continues to operate in a rapidly evolving business environment shaped by changing
consumer behavior, economic conditions, competition, and growth opportunities.
Using Costco's fiscal year 2025 Annual Report and other publicly available financial
information, analyze the company's financial performance and condition. Develop
recommendations that support Costco's long-term financial success and strategic objectives.
How can financial analysis help organizations evaluate performance, identify opportunities,
manage risk, and make informed business decisions?
Refer to the guidelines for the full topic.

 

Future Business Educator
Where Leaders Begin: Developing Essential Leadership Skills
Business professionals rely on leadership skills to communicate effectively, solve problems,
work collaboratively, and achieve organizational goals. Strong leadership contributes to
success in the workplace, the classroom, and the community.
Develop and deliver an engaging lesson on a leadership topic of your choice for a business
education classroom. Topics may include, but are not limited to, communication, teamwork,
decision-making, conflict resolution, leadership styles, goal setting, ethical leadership,
emotional intelligence, or other leadership concepts relevant to business education.
Your lesson should help students understand and apply leadership concepts in business,
school, and everyday life.

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Graphic Design
Grand Reopening: Rebranding a Renovated Hotel
A hotel in your area has recently completed a major renovation and is preparing to relaunch
with a fresh identity that reflects its updated facilities, guest experience, and brand vision.
Develop a cohesive visual identity that communicates the hotel's personality and appeals to
its target audience.
Create a branding package that establishes a recognizable identity and supports the hotel's
grand reopening. The package should include logo development, visual identity standards,
promotional materials, and branded assets that demonstrate how the brand can be applied
across multiple touchpoints and customer experiences.
Your final designs should demonstrate strong branding principles, visual communication, and
consistency while creating an identity that supports the hotel's relaunch and attracts future
guests.

 

Introduction to Business Presentation
Where Leaders Begin: Leading a Multigenerational Workforce
Today's workplaces bring together employees from multiple generations, each contributing
unique experiences, perspectives, communication styles, and work preferences. Develop a
presentation that explores how business leaders can build collaboration, strengthen
communication, and create an inclusive workplace where employees of all generations can
succeed.
How can effective leadership transform generational differences into organizational success?

 

Introduction to Programming
Local Business Digital Ordering System
Many small businesses are expanding their services by offering customers the ability to place
orders digitally. Develop a digital ordering system for a local business of your choice that
provides customers with a convenient and user-friendly ordering experience.
Your program should allow customers to browse products or services, place and manage
orders, calculate purchase totals, and review order information. Competitors should
determine the specific features and functionality that best support the needs of the selected
business and its customers.
Your program should also account for real-world situations, such as unavailable items,
inventory limits, invalid entries, or customer budget constraints.
Use any programming language or environment that demonstrates your understanding of
variables, conditionals, loops, functions, lists or arrays, user input, and basic program
organization.
How can your system improve the customer experience while helping a local business operate
more efficiently?

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Introduction to Public Speaking
Where Leaders Begin: Serving Others
Deliver a speech explaining how serving others helps individuals develop leadership skills,
build stronger communities, and create meaningful change. Support your ideas with examples
from school, business, or everyday life.
How does serving others prepare individuals to become effective leaders?

 

Introduction to Social Media Strategy
Tee Off the Fun: Grand Opening of a Family Mini Golf Course
A new family mini golf course is preparing for its grand opening and wants to use social media
to introduce its brand, build excitement, and encourage families and friends to visit. Choose
one social media platform and create a series of posts that promote the grand opening and
showcases the unique experiences the mini golf course has to offer.
How can social media generate excitement, attract new customers, and encourage visitors to
return for future experiences?

 

Mobile Application Development
Together We Go: Group Trip Planner
Planning a trip with family or friends often involves coordinating schedules, activities,
budgets, and important information. Develop a mobile application that helps groups organize
and manage a shared trip from planning through completion.
Your application should provide functionality that supports collaboration, communication,
scheduling, budgeting, organization, and trip management for multiple users. Competitors
should determine the specific features and user experience that best address the needs of
travelers.
How can your application make planning and enjoying a group trip easier, more organized, and
more collaborative?

 

Public Service Announcement
Every Bite Counts: Reducing Food Waste
Create a public service announcement (PSA) that encourages individuals and families to
reduce food waste through thoughtful planning, responsible consumption, and sustainable
habits.
How can your message inspire others to reduce food waste and make a positive impact on
their community and the environment?

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Public Speaking
Discipline Over Talent: The Habits of Successful Leaders
Deliver a speech exploring the role discipline plays in achieving personal and professional
success. Examine how discipline shapes leadership, influences decision-making, and
contributes to achieving long-term goals.
Why does discipline often have a greater impact on long-term success than talent alone?

 

Social Media Strategies
Adventure Awaits: Relaunching an Outdoor Adventure Rental Business
An outdoor adventure rental business has recently been renovated and is under new
ownership. While demand for outdoor recreation continues to grow, the business has
struggled to stand out in a competitive market and has a limited social media presence.
Company leaders want to increase awareness, attract new customers, and establish a
recognizable brand before the grand reopening.
You have been hired as a social media consultant to develop a strategy that supports the
business's goals and creates meaningful connections with current and prospective customers.
How can a strategic social media campaign transform a local business into a recognized
destination for outdoor adventure experiences?

 

Supply Chain Management
The Last Mile Challenge
A national online retailer has experienced rapid growth, resulting in increased customer
demand and higher expectations for rapid delivery. While sales continue to increase, delivery
costs have risen significantly, order fulfillment times have become inconsistent, and customer
satisfaction scores have declined. Company leaders must determine how to improve
performance without sacrificing profitability.
You have been hired as a supply chain consultant to analyze the organization's challenges and
develop a strategy that supports continued growth and long-term success.
How can effective supply chain strategies help organizations balance customer expectations,
operational efficiency, and profitability?

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Visual Design
Creating a Public Library and Technology Center Experience
A public library and technology center is being developed to serve the needs of a growing
community while creating an engaging, welcoming, and accessible visitor experience. The
facility will offer traditional library services alongside technology resources, collaborative
workspaces, digital learning opportunities, and community programs.
Develop a visual design concept that helps visitors navigate the space, access information,
and connect with available resources and services.
How can thoughtful visual design transform a public library and technology center into a
space that is clear, welcoming, functional, and inspiring for its community?

 

Website Coding & Development
Digital Resource Management Website
Organizations often need efficient ways to manage shared resources, information, requests,
or services. Develop a fully functional website that addresses a real-world organizational need
through thoughtful design, clear navigation, and effective use of technology.
Competitors should determine the purpose, audience, structure, and key features of the
website based on the problem they choose to solve. Focus on clean design, functionality,
accessibility, responsive layouts, user experience, and well-organized code. The website must
be coded from scratch using programming languages and technologies of the competitor's
choice.

 

Website Design
Community Resource Website
Communities often have a wide range of organizations, programs, services, events, and
resources that support residents and local needs. A well-organized website can present this
information clearly, making it easier for users to explore available resources, understand
community offerings, and access relevant information in one central location.
Your team has been hired to design a modern, user-friendly website that organizes
community information and resources in a clear, accessible, and visually engaging way.
Focus on visual design, usability, accessibility, responsive layouts, and effective organization
of information. Your design should create an engaging user experience that allows visitors to
explore community resources and locate information that is relevant to their needs.

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Middle School Topics:

Exploring Animation
Design the Playground of the Future!
Create an animation showcasing an imaginative playground that combines fun, accessibility,
and environmentally friendly features. Show how children of all abilities can explore, play, and
enjoy the space while protecting the environment through creative design.
Use your animation to bring your playground to life... what exciting features, inclusive designs,
and sustainable ideas will make it a place where everyone wants to play?

 

Exploring Business Ethics
Making Safe Choices: Building Trust During a Food Safety Concern
Businesses have a responsibility to protect their customers, especially when food safety
concerns arise. Ethical decision-making helps organizations respond honestly, protect public
health, and build trust.

 

Exploring Business Issues
School Stores: What Should They Sell and How Should They Decide?
Many schools and student groups run small stores, snack carts, spirit shops, or fundraiser
tables. These businesses must decide what products to sell, how much to charge, how to
attract customers, and how to balance making money with being helpful to students and
families.
Develop a presentation that explores how a school store or student-run business can choose
products, set prices, and make decisions that are fair, useful, and successful.
How can a school store make smart business decisions while meeting the needs of students,
families, and the school?

 

Exploring Coding & Programming
Adventure Awaits: Community Adventure Passport
Communities offer a variety of places to learn, explore, and have fun, including parks,
museums, libraries, historical sites, trails, and local attractions. Technology can help people
discover new experiences and encourage greater community engagement.
Design and code a new interactive program that encourages users to explore destinations and
activities within their local community. Your program should help users discover destinations,
track their experiences, and engage with their community through an organized and
interactive experience.
How can technology inspire people to explore their community and turn local experiences
into memorable adventures?

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Exploring Digital Video Production
Community Heroes: Making a Difference Every Day
Produce a video featuring an individual whose work or volunteer service makes a positive
impact in your local community. This person could be a volunteer, first responder, teacher,
nonprofit leader, healthcare worker, business owner, coach, or another individual who serves
others and helps improve the lives of those around them. Your video should showcase the
individual's daily responsibilities, highlight how their work or service benefits the community,
and explain why their contributions are important.
How can one person's dedication inspire others to serve their community? Use your video to
tell their story and encourage others to recognize and support those who make a difference
every day.

 

Exploring Public Speaking
Where Leaders Begin: Growing Stronger Through Challenges
Everyone faces setbacks, whether it's making a mistake, losing a competition, receiving a poor
grade, or not reaching a goal the first time. While challenges can be difficult, they also provide
opportunities to learn, grow, and become stronger.
Demonstrate how challenges are often where leaders begin. Share examples and practical
lessons that show how setbacks can help people build confidence, develop resilience, and
grow as leaders.

 

Exploring Website Design
Explore Your Area: Create a Visitors Bureau Website
Visitors bureaus and chambers of commerce help residents and visitors discover the

attractions, businesses, events, festivals, and experiences that make an area unique. A well-
designed website can provide information, promote local destinations, and encourage people

to explore everything a region has to offer.
Design a website for your local area, region, or community that helps users discover

attractions, events, festivals, resources, and activities while providing an engaging and user-
friendly experience.

Imagine someone is visiting your area for the very first time. How can your website showcase
the best places to explore, local traditions, seasonal events, and points of interest while
making it easy to plan a fun and memorable visit?