Students Earn Major Scholarships in 2026 UE Challenge

High school teams awarded over $1 million in scholarships at the 10th annual University of Evansville Changemaker Challenge

Feb. 2, 2026 at 4:31am

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The University of Evansville awarded scholarships to high school students in its 10th annual High School Changemaker Challenge, with the top teams receiving full-tuition and $25,000-$27,000 scholarships for their innovative solutions to real-world problems. The competition encourages students to tackle issues through creativity and problem-solving, with the university committing over $1 million in scholarships since the program's inception.

Why it matters

The Changemaker Challenge provides high school students with an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills, while also earning significant financial support for their college education. This program helps foster the next generation of innovators and community leaders, addressing real issues in their local areas.

The details

Six teams were selected as finalists in the championship round, with the top three receiving full-tuition and $25,000-$27,000 scholarships to the University of Evansville. The winning team, Helping Hands, created a platform to make volunteering more convenient. Second place went to Team Promise, which proposed a flag football league to promote physical activity and teamwork. VeraWell for Women, an app to help domestic abuse victims, took third. The runners-up were recognized for projects addressing sidewalk accessibility, online therapy, and early lung cancer detection.

  • The 10th annual High School Changemaker Challenge took place in 2026.

The players

Noma Ohonba and Chaz Burkett

Students from Signature School who won the first-place scholarship for their Helping Hands platform.

Lucy Howe and Elodie Thomason

Students from Memorial High School in Evansville who won the second-place $27,000 scholarship for their Team Promise proposal.

Jaini Haria and Adria Saha

Students from Signature School who won the third-place $25,000 scholarship for their VeraWell for Women app.

Max Flowers

Graduate research librarian and clinical assistant professor at the University of Evansville, named Emerging Coach of the Year.

Dr. Valerie Stein

Professor of religious studies and director of the social justice program and race and ethnicity studies at the University of Evansville, named Coach of the Year.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Changemaker Challenge demonstrates the University of Evansville's commitment to fostering innovation and community engagement among high school students, providing significant financial support for their college education and helping to develop the next generation of problem-solvers and leaders.