Awards & Prizes
Top Prizes:
- The top prize at the Finals is $7,500 for the organization’s STEM program plus a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama for up to five team members (3 Team Members, 1 Educator and 1 Mentor) awarded by Bentley Systems.
- Second place is awarded a $5,000 prize for the organization’s STEM program, provided by Shell.
- Third prize is $2,000 for the organization’s STEM program, provided by Bechtel Corporation.
- The 4th and 5th place teams each receive $750 for their organization’s STEM program, provided by NCEES.
Special Awards:
Award Name Winner Sponsor Criteria
People's Choice Award DiscoverE This award is given to the team that is voted by the general public to have the best model.
Most Innovative Design of Infrastructure Systems American Society of Civil Engineers Design that accommodates the most innovative systems (e.g., transportation, water and wastewater) for a community.
Most Sustainable Food Production System American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Design that provides the best sustainable food production system while conserving soil, water and energy.
Design-Centered Solutions with Nature American Society of Landscape Architects This award recognizes the thoughtful work of landscape architects through the power of design and nature. Landscape architects harness the power of natural resources to demonstrate the application of design thinking. Discover and challenge your creativity by incorporating nature-based solutions to real world problems such as climate change, air and water pollution, threats to biodiversity, unsafe cities and neighbors, and overpopulation while consuming fewer resources.
#AQOLFA Award: Advancing Quality of Life for All APWA Design that best demonstrates advancing quality of life for all. Public works is advancing the quality of life for all every day through public services that: improve mobility, provide clean water, reduce the use of natural resources, provide public places for people to come together, and provide a safer place to live, work, and play.
Best Futuristic City ASME Use of futuristic engineering concepts into city's communications, energy, or transportation systems
Best Residential Zone Chinese Institute of Engineers-USA Strategic placement of residential zones that allow maximum return for quality of life issues.
The City of the Future that Best Incorporates Cultural Historical Resources Cuban-American Association of Civil Engineers, Inc. The city whose design best incorporates historical and cultural sites, buildings, infrastructure, and customs.
Outstanding City Model DiscoverE This award is given to the team with the overall highest score as judged during the National Preliminary Judging of the Model.
Outstanding City Essay DiscoverE This award is given to the team with the overall highest City Essay score as judged by the Finals Judges.
Best Transportation System for the Community Institute of Transportation Engineers Design that thoughtfully integrates safe and equitable ways to move people around their communities. Considers multiple modes of sustainable transportation (with strong connections between different modes), prioritizes citizens’ health and safety, and creates equitable access across the city. Uses advanced and futuristic technology in ways that support these overarching goals.
NCEES Best Land Surveying Practices NCEES The NCEES Best Land Surveying Practices special award recognizes the design that employs the best land surveying practices, taking into consideration the high standards used by surveyors to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. Teams should be able to demonstrate the skills surveyors provide in the design and development of their future city.
Professional Engineering Award National Society of Professional Engineers In planning, designing, building, and maintaining your city, please explain and give examples of steps you will undertake to: Ensure your city’s engineers are competent professionals; Comply with engineering safety codes and technical standards; and Reject behavior that misleads or deceives the public.
Outstanding Future City Project Plan Project Management Institute Educational Foundation Teams should be able to explain how they followed the project cycle when designing their Future City. They should be able to clearly communicate their activities in each stage of the project cycle, including how they created their project schedule, assigned responsibilities, and monitored and controlled their work. Finally, teams should be able to explain what they learned during their project by answering the kinds of questions that they ask themselves during their team reflection. Samples of work that highlight teams’ project management activities are encouraged.
Excellence in Resilience Engineering UL- Research Institutes Demonstration of excellence in the city design of resilient systems that withstand and quickly adapt to adverse circumstances and events like natural disasters.
Best Use of Nuclear Science American Nuclear Society Must leverage nuclear science and/or technology in a safe, environmentally conscious manner.