Designing the Future: STEM Xposure Inc. Launches the 2025 Skoolie Challenge

Here's the blueprint: What if a school project didn't end in a grade, but in a real build that changes lives?

This winter break, STEM Xposure Inc. is flipping the script on student design challenges with the launch of The Great American Skoolie Challenge 2025, a national competition where students don't just imagine the future of work… they architect it.

From December 17–31, 2025, students ages 9–17 will reimagine a retired school bus as a Mobile Workforce Training Unit. And here's the kicker: the winning design will actually be built and deployed into real communities.

No hypotheticals. No "just for practice." This is design with purpose.

More Than a Design Challenge, This Is a Build

Unlike traditional student competitions that stop at drawings or digital files, the Skoolie Challenge is grounded in real outcomes. The grand-prize design will become a 40-foot mobile training lab, traveling directly into underserved neighborhoods to expose youth to high-demand career pathways.

Students are challenged to think like real designers, planners, and problem-solvers by incorporating:

• Training stations for 12+ students (because scale matters)

• A functional instructor workspace (teachers need room to teach)

• Smart storage for tools and materials (organization = efficiency)

• Solar power and hurricane-ready features (resilience is non-negotiable)

• A bold exterior wrap themed "Future Careers Start Here" (visibility drives impact)

This isn't about making something "look cool." It's about making something that works.

Real talk: Most design competitions ask students to create fantasy projects that will never see daylight. We're asking them to solve actual problems for actual people. That's the difference between busy work and meaningful work.

Career Exposure That Actually Makes Sense

Participants are encouraged to design spaces that support real workforce pathways, including:

Skilled Trades & Construction

• Welding & HVAC systems

• Solar & renewable energy installation

• Carpentry and electrical work

Technology & Innovation

• Robotics & coding laboratories

• Drone operation and maintenance

• Healthcare technology training

Creative Industries

• Auto technology and mechanics

• Cosmetology and beauty sciences

• Culinary arts and food safety

Students learn early that careers aren't abstract concepts, they're systems, workflows, and environments that must be intentionally designed. When a 14-year-old maps out how to fit welding stations, ventilation, and storage into 320 square feet, they're not just drawing. They're engineering solutions.

Two Age Divisions. Real Recognition.

To keep the playing field fair and age-appropriate, the challenge splits into two divisions:

Junior Division: Ages 9–12 Perfect for students just discovering their design voices

Senior Division: Ages 13–17 Ideal for teens ready to tackle complex spatial challenges

Every student who completes the challenge earns a "Licensed Skoolie Architect" digital badge and certificate, a legit portfolio boost for scholarships, applications, and future opportunities.

And yes, everyone who finishes is recognized. No gatekeeping. No disappearing acts.

Accessible by Design (Because Equity Matters)

Students can use any design method or software that fits their learning style:

• Hand-drawn designs (scanned or photographed)

• Roblox Studio (yes, really: kids are already building there)

• SketchUp (free and powerful)

• Tinkercad (browser-based, no downloads)

• AutoCAD or Revit (student versions available)

No expensive software. No paywalls. Just creativity, curiosity, and support.

Students work at their own pace, with instructor assistance available throughout the challenge: meeting learners where they are, not where adults assume they should be.

This is intentional. When we remove barriers to entry, we get better ideas from more voices. And frankly, some of the most innovative solutions come from minds that think differently.

Prizes With Purpose (Not Just Bragging Rights)

🏆 Grand Prize Winner (All Ages)

• Winning design built into a real skoolie

• Permanent name plaque on the bus

• Professional photoshoot with the completed unit

• $100 gift card + STEM kit + national recognition

🥇 Division Awards

• 1st Place: $50 gift cards, STEM kits, 24×24 professional posters, social features

• 2nd & 3rd Place: $25 gift cards, STEM kits, and social spotlights

🌟 Top 10 Finalists

• $10 gift cards + highlighted social media features

All participants who complete the challenge are featured on the Wall of Builders: because effort deserves acknowledgment.

The prize structure reflects our values: recognition matters, but the real reward is seeing your ideas come to life and impact real communities.

Key Dates & Registration Info

Registration Fee: $25 (but keep reading...)

Scholarships Available: 20 full scholarships for students who need them

Live Virtual Kickoff: December 17, 2025 | 11:00 AM EST

Registration Closes: December 26, 2025

Final Submissions Due: December 31, 2025

Winners Announced: January 10, 2026

This is a focused, two-week experience: perfect for winter break, without burnout. Students get structure, support, and just enough pressure to produce their best work.

Why the Skoolie Challenge Matters

The STEM Xposure Inc. Skoolie Challenge teaches students how to:

Think spatially and strategically : How do you fit 12 workstations into a bus? That's architectural problem-solving.

Design within real-world constraints : Budgets, building codes, and physics aren't suggestions. They're design parameters.

Understand safety, power systems, and workflow : A mobile classroom has to work in Florida hurricanes and Minnesota winters.

Connect creativity to community impact : Your design decisions affect real students in real neighborhoods.

Most importantly, it helps students see themselves as builders of solutions, not just consumers of information.

When a young woman designs a mobile HVAC training lab, she's not just completing an assignment. She's positioning herself as someone who belongs in skilled trades, engineering, and leadership. That shift in self-perception? That's everything.

About STEM Xposure Inc.

STEM Xposure Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Tampa Bay, dedicated to empowering students: especially girls and underserved youth: through access to STEM education, workforce development, and real-world career pathways.

Their programs don't just teach skills. They build confidence, representation, and futures.

Over the past year, STEM Xposure has impacted over 2,386 students across the Tampa Bay area, with 105 students graduating from their NCCER Workforce program. Their 2024 STEM camps served over 150 girls, proving that when you create the right environment, young women thrive in technical fields.

This challenge represents the next evolution of their work: scaling impact through student-driven innovation.

Ready to Build the Future?

Here's the assignment: If you know a student who's ready to think bigger, design bolder, and build something that matters: get them registered.

This isn't just another winter break activity. It's a chance for young minds to see their ideas become reality, their names on actual builds, and their designs rolling into communities that need them most.

The future of work is mobile, flexible, and community-centered. The students who design it today will lead it tomorrow.

Registration opens now. Scholarships available. Real builds waiting.

Let's architect the next generation of problem-solvers. Visit stemxposure.org to get started.

Forward is the only direction. Let's build.