Community College Innovation Challenge Overview - HCC 2026

Описание: Dear HCC Student Innovators and Entrepreneurs,

Do you have a STEM-based solution to a real-world problem? Are you building a startup or a technical project that could make a global impact?

We are looking for the next generation of HCC innovators to compete in the 2026 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). Led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), this is a premier national stage to showcase your work.

Why Participate?
National Recognition: Showcase your innovation to STEM leaders and Congressional stakeholders.

Innovation Boot Camp: Finalist teams receive full travel support to attend an elite entrepreneurial boot camp in Washington, D.C. (June 8–11, 2026).

Cash Awards: Compete for first, second, and third-place cash prizes.

Professional Mentorship: Build strategic communication and pitch skills to advance your project into the private or public sector.

How to Get Started
Before you submit your application to the national portal, we want to support you. Please follow these steps:

Fill out our HCC Interest Form: https://forms.gle/n9CZGiDjLKvSGjeu9

This will collect your project summary and team information so we can track your progress.

Attend Our CCIC Mentoring sessions: After reading through the CCIC Program Details, join our upcoming workshops to refine your project and pitch.

Get a Mentor: Teams that are ready to move toward final submission will be assigned a dedicated administrative or faculty mentor to provide expert guidance and support for your application.

Key Deadlines
Submissions are now OPEN.
Final National Deadline: April 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PDT.