Press Kit

Future City 2025

 

More than 65,000 students compete every year from 37+ regions in the United States and three from China. Join us in Washington, D.C. for the Future City 2025 Finals!

Congratulations to the Regional Teams advancing to Finals –  To be announced! Check back here at the end of January!

Future City has something for Educators, Students, and Mentors—working as a team.

Press Releases:

Judges Needed for Future City® Competition:  
Help Shape the Next Generation of Innovators 

WASHINGTON, DC, December 4, 2024 – DiscoverE (Discover Engineering), a nonprofit organization committed to inspiring the next generation of engineers, is inviting engineering and technical professionals—and anyone passionate about shaping the future—to volunteer as judges for the 33rd Annual Future City® Competition. Judging can be done either in person or virtually, with opportunities available in January for regional events or in February at the global finals in Washington, DC. 

This year’s Future City® Competition challenges middle and high school students to design floating cities that address the rising challenges of sea levels and climate change. Students present their ideas through essays, project plans, scale models, and presentations, providing judges with a unique opportunity to engage with young innovators as they tackle real-world problems. 

​​​​​Over 67,000 students from more than 1,800 schools and 37 regions in the U.S., plus teams from Canada and China, participate each year, with regional winners competing at the global finals. This year’s finals will be held February 17-20, 2025, in Washington, DC, during Engineers Week. Middle school students will compete for the grand prize: $7,500 for their school’s STEM program, sponsored by Bentley Systems, and an unforgettable STEM experience. High school participants, now officially part of the competition, will have the chance to compete for valuable college scholarships. 

“We’re excited to expand the Future City Competition to include high school students this year, giving even more young minds the chance to think and innovate like real engineers,” says Kathy Renzetti, Executive Director & CEO of DiscoverE. “As a judge, you’ll witness firsthand the creativity and potential of these students as they gain crucial skills like teamwork, communication, and critical thinking that will benefit both their futures and the STEM workforce.” 

Calling All Engineers, Technical Professionals, and Future Difference-Makers 
As a judge, you’ll play a vital role in evaluating student projects and selecting winners at the regional and national levels. You will: 

  • Review student essays, project plans, and models. 
  • Assess students’ grasp of engineering principles and their ability to apply them to real-world issues. 
  • Provide invaluable feedback and encouragement to young STEM enthusiasts. 
  • Participate in person or virtually, depending on your preference. 

Why Volunteer? 
Judging for the Future City Competition offers a rewarding experience, allowing you to: 

  • Make a meaningful impact on young students’ lives. 
  • Support the development of the future engineering workforce. 
  • Network with fellow professionals. 
  • Gain fresh perspectives from the next generation of innovators. 

Join the Movement 
If you’re an engineer, educator, STEM professional, or community leader who wants to inspire change, DiscoverE encourages you to volunteer as a judge. Visit futurecity.org to learn more about the competition and how to get involved. To volunteer as a judge, register at futurecity.org/judge-registration. 

​​​​​Major funding for DiscoverE’s programs, including the Future City Competition, is provided by Bechtel Corporation, Overdeck Family Foundation, NCEES, Bentley Systems Inc., Northrup Grumman Foundation, TE Connectivity, PMIEF, United Engineering Foundation, UL Research Institute, RTX and Shell Energy. 

Fact Sheet:

  • The 33nd annual Future City Competition for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade STEM students is September 2024 through February 2025. This year’s Future City challenge is to design a floating city and provide two innovative examples of how their floating city works to keep their citizens healthy and safe.
  • Competition finals of nationwide regional winners are held during Engineer’s week, February 16 to 22, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill at 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
  • Winners will be announced February 19, 2025.

Digital Resources:

What teachers, students, and volunteers are saying:

“Students research, write, build, think, and work as a team. We have lots of clubs at my school, but I think Future City is the most inclusive of all the things we try to teach our kids.”

– John Boyd
Haynes Magnet School
North Carolina Educator

“I think Future City is an easy way to have students have fun and learn about engineering.”

– 7th Grade Student

“As a judge, I was amazed with the intelligence and quick thinking that they showed during the questions and answers period. I am quite optimistic with the future of our world after seeing the tremendous young talents gathered from all over the world.”

– Desmond Chan
Finals Judge

“The middle schoolers liked running ideas past me and being treated like a colleague. It gave them the sense that what they were doing wasn’t confined to the classroom – it felt like the real-world.”

– Jarom Wagoner, AICP
Mentor
Senior Planner for the City of Caldwell, Idaho

 

Archive

Future City is open to kids in grades 6, 7, and 8 who are from the same school, a home school environment or are members of a nationally, regionally, or state-recognized youth-focused organization, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, or 4-H.

Looking for more?
Contact futurecity@discovere.org