Student Challenge Finalists Unveiled + Festival News, Free Next-Gen Summits & More! 🚀

Welcome to the May G4C Learn Newsletter! The G4C Student Challenge closed this month, and we are thrilled to announce this year’s finalists in this issue. You’ll also find exciting updates on the upcoming G4C Festival, our annual NYC event that brings together a global community of changemakers and innovators. Plus, we’re sharing registration details for the Next-Gen Summit, G4C Learn’s premier youth event for high school students in LA and NYC who are interested in exploring career pathways in the video game industry. Lastly, educators in the Detroit Metro area can learn more about Game Plan Detroit, a professional development program focused on integrating game-based learning in the classroom. Scroll down for all the details and get ready to be inspired! ✨
- G4C Learn Team

And that’s a wrap! The 10th year of the G4C Student Challenge has come to a close, and what a record-breaking year it’s been! Over the past decade, this program has reached more than 70,000 students all over the world through our impact game design challenge and events such as game jams and Level Up workshops. 🎮 🌍

This year, students tackled urgent topics aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,  including climate anxiety, world hunger, and peacebuilding. These efforts were powered by our incredible theme partners: Earthwatch Europe, Take Action Global, World Food Program USA, and the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative.

This year: 

• 🏫 518 schools/programs participated across Junior, Senior, and University-age divisions.

• 🧑‍🏫 340 educators guided students through the game design process in their classrooms

• 🧑‍🎓 Students from 91 countries participated in Game Jams, joined Level Up workshops, and submitted games to the competition.

• 🎮 1,743 students submitted original projects to the challenge, totaling 992 unique game submissions.

• 🎓 230 game designers between the ages of 18-25 submitted games to our new competition division for university-age participants.

Without further ado, we are excited to share the 67 finalists for this year’s competition— click the button below to explore them!

New this year: We’re offering  ✨ FREE ✨ virtual pre-Festival events! From crash courses to a stream-a-thon and more, each event will highlight this year’s theme: Designing for Tomorrow.

Join us on June 10 at 7:00 PM for a special virtual book launch event: Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully! 📚 🎮

Featuring James Paul Gee, Tracy Fullerton, and Matthew Farber, Ed.D., This discussion will explore James Paul Gee’s new theory of player response, which delves into the experience players have when playing games, not due to the outcomes or mechanics of the games but the ephemeral and emotional experiences that occur through play.

📺 Tune in live on Twitch to be part of the conversation, and don’t forget to add it to your calendar so you don’t miss this insightful event!

The 22nd Annual Games for Change Festival is quickly approaching, and the full schedule is now LIVE! 

Join a global community of educators, developers, game based learning experts, and leaders for two full days of powerful programming centered around this year’s theme, “Designing for Tomorrow.” 

🎉 From June 26- 27, explore how games can bridge the generational gap, spark creativity, and drive impact across sectors, including education! 

🎟️ Spots are filling up fast, and prices increase on June 9, 2025!

💸 Limited discounts are still available for educators, indie game developers, non-profit members, and students. Check if you qualify.

But that’s not all! The Next-Gen Summit is BACK on the East and West Coast! 

We are thrilled to announce the return of the Next-Gen Summit, happening in New York City on June 22nd and Los Angeles on June 28th! 🎉 🎮

The Next-Gen Summit is G4C’s premier youth event, designed to inspire and empower teens (ages 13-18) to explore career pathways in gaming and STEAM.

Next-Gen uniquely connects students with industry professionals while strengthening their skills through inclusive workshops for all experience levels. By adopting a game-like format, the Summit reimagines the traditional career fair as a low-pressure experience rooted in play and discovery.🕹️

Key Details:

• 🌟 Cost: FREE

• 📩 Who’s invited: Students aged 13-18

• 📍 New York City: June 22nd, Microsoft Experience Center, 677 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022 

• 📍 Los Angeles: June 28th, California State Dominguez Hills, James L. Welch Hall, 1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90746

Whether you're a parent, educator, or industry professional, please share this flier with the young people in your life who want to explore a future in the video game industry!

Are you a public school educator based in the Detroit Metro area and curious about the possibilities of integrating game design into your classroom? You’re in luck! We are seeking applicants this summer for Game Plan Detroit, a program offered in partnership with Michigan Central. This year-long, immersive, and hands-on professional development experience equips middle school and high school teachers with the skills to integrate game-based learning and game design into their classrooms. Participants will explore G4C’s Intro to Game Design Curriculum, learn how to empower your students as impact game designers, and how to guide students through the Games for Change Student Challenge.

Stipends of $2,000 will be offered to educators to honor their time and energy in bringing game-based learning to their students. 🏛️ 🎮

Do you know educators who would be interested in bringing games and play with the professional support and community of G4C Learn? Share this newsletter with them!