From Ideas to Impact: The 2025 CREATE® Competition Kicks Off

The 2025 CREATE® Competition is officially underway, bringing together high school students, mentors, and industry leaders for another exciting season of innovation, collaboration, and creativity. This year’s competition will culminate on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Sacramento State University’s University Union Ballroom, where students will showcase their projects before a panel of judges and celebrate four months of hard work and mentorship.

Kicking Off the 2025 Season

The CREATE® season began earlier this fall with both in-person and virtual kickoff events that introduced participating schools to this year’s challenge and connected them with their industry mentors. Over the next several weeks, students will design and present creative solutions that address real-world challenges in the built environment.

Mentorship in Action

​CIEF’s Youth Programs Manager, Ashley Slovak, will be meeting weekly with participating schools across Northern California to check in with student teams and their mentors as they develop their final projects.

Just yesterday, volunteer mentor Jenna Baker visited Folsom High School, guiding students through their engineering plans and answering technical questions to help refine their final presentations. Mentorship remains one of the most impactful aspects of the CREATE program, connecting students directly with professionals who shape the built environment every day.

During a recent site visit to West Campus High School, Ashley worked closely with the students as they completed their first run-through of design plans. One student, Zia Xiang, stood out for her enthusiasm and commitment. Zia, a junior and third year CREATE participant, shared:

"I really like CREATE — it’s such a fun experience. I’ve learned a lot about working on a team with different personalities, ideas, and skills, and it’s been really cool to see how everything comes together. I also like getting to present in front of industry professionals; it’s a little nerve-wracking but exciting. Having mentors to guide us through the project makes a big difference too — it feels good knowing we’re not doing it alone. And I love getting to connect with local companies and meet people who actually work in the industry."

A Look Back at 2024

Last year’s CREATE® Competition brought together 13 schools, 58 mentoring companies, and over 250 students—a reflection of the program’s growing impact. To date, CIEF has awarded over $850,000 in scholarships to help students pursue careers in construction, architecture, and engineering.

Get Involved

​The CREATE® Competition would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, mentors, and volunteers.

We’re currently seeking sponsors and volunteer judges to join us for the 2025 competition in December.
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Together, we’re helping students explore career pathways and inspiring the next generation to create the built environment of tomorrow.
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Learn More or Get Involved →