On April 23rd, Fernbank Science Center’s Planetarium was filled with excited students, cheering with encouragement, and bouncing out of their seats. Their excitement could not be contained, evidenced by the spontaneous dance battles with Captain Planet, and a live DJ that kept the energy hype.
This wasn’t your average science project competition. This was the Metro Atlanta 2025 Green Heart STEM Challenge Finale, hosted by Captain Planet Foundation, and made possible by Susan J. Klein, Accenture, and the Fernbank Science Center.
In January, students and teachers first learned all about the WIND element— the theme for this year’s Challenge. In the Captain Planet-verse, WIND solutions envision a world that embraces “circular economy” – where all products have an intended end of life use that minimizes waste production.
Students from Elementary, Middle, and High Schools had the opportunity to connect these ideas to their classroom’s science-based learning, identifying a problem in their community that related to such topics as electronic waste disposal, food waste, fast fashion, and plastic pollution. Student teams submitted an Action Plan for a solution that addressed the root causes of their identified problem. Teams were asked to include relevant stakeholders, credible research, and a detailed outline for project implementation. They also submitted a two-minute video that shared their inspiration and project plans.
After months of hard work, nine teams of finalists joined Captain Planet Foundation at the Fernbank Science Center to pitch their plans to an esteemed panel of judges.
“I was truly inspired by the student groups who presented well-researched, thoughtful solutions to the pressing issues they identified in their schools and communities,” said Careshia Moore, President & CEO of Compete to Succeed Educational Resources, and one of three judges at the Finale. “Many focused on how their seemingly simple ideas could drive lasting, sustainable impact. The Captain Planet team created an environment that fostered meaningful collaboration and empowered all the attendees to deepen their learning alongside their peers.”
Moore joined John R. Seydel, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer at City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office, and Gina Rude, US Corporate Citizenship Manager at Accenture as judges for the competition. Rude and her team at Accenture will take part in the upcoming Idea Incubator, where the winning teams from each grade-level category will workshop their project timeline and budget alongside professional consultants.
Over 200 students were in attendance for the Finale, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the top three finalists in each grade-level category: Primary (5th Grade), Junior (Middle School), and Senior (High School).
Each of these finalists then had the opportunity to speak on-stage in front of the judges, their submitted team video displayed for all to see. Judges asked follow up questions to these top teams in addition to the question, “If your team were to win the Green Heart STEM Challenge Implementation Grant, How would you use it?”
These Green Heart STEM Challenge finalists answered the judges’ questions with poise and intentionality, responding to their inquiries with on-the-spot critical thinking and decision making.
With wide ranging ideas—including a three-bin compost system, a prototype that would convert CO2 emissions into a valuable resource, and a sewing club that would teach students about repurposing clothing—the solutions that were presented at the 2025 Green Heart STEM Challenge Finale demonstrated young people’s unwavering creativity and passion for a more sustainable future.
These incredible student participants walked away from the day’s festivities with gleaming trophies, plaques, and medals in hand, understanding that there is no age limit when it comes to solving today’s most pressing environmental issues.
Listed below are each of the Finalist Winners from Each Category:
Primary (5th Grade)
1st Place – Green Clan, Wadsworth Magnet
Establish waste-disposal bins near an iconic cherry blossom tree in a classmate’s neighborhood park.
2nd Place – The MSA Stu, Huntley Hills Elementary
Utilize their school’s Run Club to help create a litter-free school environment.
3rd Place – The Helpful Clothing System, Huntley Hills Elementary
Conduct a clothing drive at their school and distribute to known donation centers in their community.
Junior (Middle School)
1st Place – BMS Green Victory, Mary McLeod Middle
Develop an inclusive and culturally-aware e-cookbook, and student club, that contains recipes that utilize foods that are commonly thrown out during school lunch.
2nd Place – Operation Za.Ad.Do.Su, Wadsworth Magnet
Engineer a special filter that goes on a car’s exhaust pipe that would be able to decrease carbon emissions.
3rd Place – Wonderful Wind Wonders, Wadsworth Magnet
Clean and prevent further plastic pollution near their local creek through an awareness campaign, forming a bi-monthly clean-up crew, and setting up accessible recycling bins.
Senior (High School)
1st Place – Compost Queens, Tucker High School
Promote a circular system with food waste within their school cafeteria— creating compost for their school’s garden.
2nd Place – Food Waste 3, Fernbank
Compost donation system that would connect their school’s food waste to local farmers and growers.
3rd Place – Food Waste 4, Fernbank
Implement composting bins spread around their school campus that also functions as an educational tool, teaching students how to compost and why it is important.
Attending Schools/Organizations: Huntley Hills Elementary, Wadsworth Magnet School, Mary McLeod Middle, Peachtree Middle, Tucker High School, Tucker Middle School, Forest Park Middle School
