Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico – The Jalisco 2025 STEAM Challenge wrapped up with an inspiring awards ceremony recognizing outstanding high school students whose projects offer creative solutions to real-world problems. With over 32,000 students from public and private institutions participating, the event showcased the innovation and commitment of youth across the state.
Led by Andrea Blanco Calderón, General Strategic Coordinator for Social Development, and Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes, Secretary of Education, the final ceremony honored the top five teams with financial prizes and a fully sponsored trip to attend Silicon Valley Innovation Day in San Francisco and San Jose this July.
Blanco emphasized that beyond academic achievement, the challenge helps students build important life skills such as teamwork, resilience, communication, and problem-solving. Flores noted the rapid growth of the program and its role in helping students realize their own potential through dedication and perseverance.
First place went to Eco Roof Recycling from CONALEP Lagos de Moreno, whose team created eco-friendly dome tiles from hard-to-recycle materials like rubber and Styrofoam using solar energy. Their project promotes green construction and reduces landfill waste.
Second place was awarded to REXTEAM from CECyTEJ Valle de Juárez for developing sustainable textiles and stuffing materials from single-use plastics. The initiative encourages responsible consumption and waste separation within their community.
Forest Guardians, from Preparatory School No. 17 of the University of Guadalajara, earned third place for their intelligent forest fire early detection system. Using mesh-networked sensors and artificial intelligence, the system monitors environmental conditions and sends early alerts through a mobile app – offering communities a powerful tool for fire prevention.
A panel of judges from leading academic and tech organizations – including Amazon Web Services, Google for Education, Oracle, Samsung, and the BBVA Foundation – evaluated over 1,800 team submissions. Faraón Torres Lazos, a judge and President of the USA-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (Northwest Region), praised the students’ human-centered vision and called the challenge a glimpse into the promising future of Jalisco’s youth.
Top teams received financial support ranging from 280,000 to 60,000 pesos, while teams placing sixth through twentieth also received monetary awards. Advisors were also recognized with prizes up to 50,000 pesos, underscoring the importance of mentorship in student success.
With talent, creativity, and heart, Jalisco’s young minds are not just solving today’s problems – they’re building tomorrow’s solutions.
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