In September 2024, we received 575 project submissions for the 13th annual optiMize Social Innovation Challenge. Over the following five months, we hosted the SIC with workshops, community-building events, in-person mentorship sessions, and peer-oriented discussions to talk about workshop content. Read the blog posts about the participant experience & new mentorship model!
In February, these teams presented their work and requested up to $10,000 per project. That funding allows students to work full-time on their projects as optiMize Summer Fellows. This year, we are able to fund 32 project teams composed of 40 students and offer 35 students summer fellowships through the generous donations of over 100 donors.
We are also incredibly excited to share the stories of our 11 Transfer Bridge Fellows, a fellowship offered every academic year to current University of Michigan transfer students who want to help impact the transfer student experience. During the Fellowship, these students led workshops at different community colleges and mentored prospective U-M students in various stages of the transfer process.
As we enter a new year with optiMize, we are so proud to present to you the 2025 Booklet, featuring our Social Innovation Challenge teams, Transfer Bridge Fellows, and Organizing Team.
You can also watch our Spring Showcase on YouTube to learn more about the teams, our Fellows, and our Organizing Team!
