Throughout the third annual Student Sustainability Design Challenge (SSDC) showcase, the pride and passion that students have for their schools and neighborhoods was evident in each and every presentation and pitch. Across the 30+ student-driven sustainability projects, you could see hundreds of middle and high school students glowing with passion for their projects as they presented their work to dozens of industry experts from across the region.
The SSDC showcase represents a remarkable transformation of learning; what began in the fall with students learning about sustainability from a diversity of professionals ends with those same students sharing their own ideas aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Student projects spanned all 17 of the Global Goals, with topics ranging from upcycled furniture and plastic waste to community greenhouses and student mental health. One team from Mount Pleasant Area School District even brought a scale model depicting a natural river filtration system intended to reduce the impact of acid mine drainage.
“The students learn so much from this program,” said Jennifer Torrance, a longtime partner from Phipps Conservatory. “They gain valuable real-world experience and project planning skills. At the same time, they are proposing innovative solutions that many adults would not think of because of their unique perspective as youth with a strong understanding of their peers’ and communities’ needs.”
Perhaps most striking was their consistent focus on uplifting and helping others, whether providing toiletries to peers in need, repurposing discarded wood into bird houses for native species, or advocating for healthier, eco-friendly food options in the cafeteria. So many saw incredible opportunities where others might only see challenges.
“It was really cool to see how sustainability is being implemented by other schools and what that looked like for them,” shared a student from Shaler Area School District. “It was an amazing example of community and coming together over a common goal.”
Several teams were returning for their third year. The Cornell team, which joined the SSDC in 2023, has evolved their focus over the years from growing food pantry staples in their campus greenhouse to now teaching their younger elementary peers the basics of composting–engaging a new generation of sustainability-focused learners.
The team from Blackhawk High School, which continues to expand its plastic recycling initiatives, even performed a live upcycling demonstration, inviting professionals and students alike to don safety goggles, pick up a drill and take part in the creativity. At the close of the event, the Blackhawk team presented the Consortium with a custom mosaic logo made entirely of discarded plastic.
The Highlands team, another longtime participant in the SSDC, recently published a profile of the incredible work that several teams undertook throughout the year. You can read more here.
As the SSDC has expanded geographically, students presented their sustainability solutions at two events. Thank you to Rodef Shalom Congregation and Washington & Jefferson College for hosting the SSDC this year.
The Consortium is incredibly grateful for the ongoing and generous support provided by EQT, Ebara Elliott Energy, PPG, and UPMC Health Plan. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors this year, the Consortium was able to award catalytic mini-grants to help students bring their projects to life.
Are you an educator interested in participating in the Student Sustainability Design Challenge in the 2026-2027 school year? Please complete our interest form here.
