EcoInnovators
Environmental technology, engineered by Orange County high schoolers.
An interscholastic program uniting Orange County high schools around environmental technology. Chapters research real problems year-round and pitch solutions each spring at the EcoInnovation Competition.
EcoInnovation Competition, Newport Coast Community Center
A Pitch Built On Research.
Chapters study environmental issues through a technology lens — carbon capture, smart infrastructure, wildfire response, and more. By spring, each student defends an original tech solution to a real environmental problem, in front of working professionals.
Why students join
- Solve real environmental problems with technology
- Connect with students across Orange County
- Learn directly from the professionals who judge the competition
- Take on chapter leadership experience
- Compete for a $500 grant
- Strengthens a college application
A Shortened Engineering Design Process.
Ask
Identify a real need or constraint in the community — worth solving before it's worth pitching.
Example: Lithium-ion batteries are the problem. Hydrogen fuel cells could solve it — how do we integrate that safely?
Research
Judges ask hard questions. Knowing the problem and subject thoroughly is non-negotiable.
Example: An app for environmental journalists sounds promising — does it actually help? What do the numbers say?
Plan
Select a solution and make the case for it — a major problem requires justifying the improvement; a minor one requires justifying the whole idea.
Most teams stop here and pitch the plan itself. A working prototype is a bonus, never a requirement.
Presented as a slide deck at the annual EcoInnovation Competition — no build required, just a defensible idea.
EcoInnovation Competition
An interscholastic, interdisciplinary pitch competition. Teams present an original tech solution to an environmental problem — as a slide deck, to a panel of working professionals.
- WhenMid-March, annually
- WhereNewport Coast Community Center
- FormatSlide deck presentation — no prototype required
- Judged byProfessionals from water districts, environmental investment, and civic leadership
- Open toStudents from every EcoInnovators chapter in Orange County
Event
Founded in 2023 by Shaurya Mittal (Sage Hill) and Aryan Sharma (OCSA), and growing every year.
Inaugural Competition
Eight projects presented to six judges from the environmental and technology fields.
2nd Annual
Seven finalists pitched at Newport Coast Community Center before about 100 attendees. Opening keynote from the Orange County Water District.
3rd Annual
Projects from across the network, with opening remarks from Tim Springer, CEO of 1 to 100.
Competition day
The judges panel
Celebrating the winners
10+ Chapters. One Competition.
Each chapter is run entirely by its own students — its own meetings, its own curriculum, its own outreach.
Students from across the network at the 2025 EcoInnovation Competition
Orange County School of the Arts
ChapterStarted three years ago. Runs Earth Day and special-event booths, with one of the network’s most active social presences.
Sage Hill
ChapterWhere EcoInnovators began. Started three years ago and the largest chapter by project submissions.
Laguna Hills
ChapterYorba Linda
Chapter
Corona del Mar
ChapterStarted two years ago, with monthly meetings on Orange County environmental issues and strong attendance.
Beckman
ChapterDon't see your school? Any OC high school can start an EcoInnovators chapter and send a team to the competition.
Start a ChapterChapter Leadership.
Every chapter is entirely student-led — these roles keep one running, start to finish.
Chapter leaders networking with judges and guests
Leadership means more than running meetings — it's the students who talk to judges, sponsors, and city officials on behalf of their chapter.
President & VP of Club Operations
Runs meetings, sets the agenda, and brings in guest speakers when the President needs backup.
VP of Club Outreach
Builds the chapter's presence beyond its own school — partnerships, other clubs, the wider community.
VP of Event Coordination
Owns the flagship pitch event end to end — logistics, timing, every moving part.
Curriculum Designer
Shapes what the chapter actually learns — content, guest speakers, session planning.
Communications Liaison
Keeps internal and public messaging clear — newsletters, announcements, updates.
Social Media Manager
Runs the chapter's Instagram — graphics, updates, and actually talking back to followers.
Outreach Ambassador
The connective tissue to speakers, other clubs, and the broader community — including speaking at town meetings.
Event Operators
Keep competition day itself running — materials, logistics, the details nobody else sees.
Judged By Industry Professionals.
Practitioners from across the fields our students pitch into.
Judges and guests with EcoInnovators students, 2024 EcoInnovation Competition
Roohi Toosi
President, APEX Environmental and Water Resources
Timothy Springer
Founder, LevelAccess · CEO, 1 to 100
Lisa Haney
Executive Director of Planning and Natural Resources, Orange County Water District
Suzan Given, CPSWQ
Environmental Scientist, County of Orange
Amanda Jones
AQUATRAX Advisory Board Member
Jelle Brons
Executive Vice President, PIMCO
Vidyanand Choudhary
Professor, UC Irvine
Riana Olson
Capstone Project Director, UCI Paul Merage School of Business
Ken Murphy
Program Director, UCI Paul Merage School of Business
Ricardo Vanegas
Delogik Advisory & Solutions
Judges and student winners, 2026 EcoInnovation Competition
EcoInnovators In The News.
Newport Teens Collaborate on Sustainability Competition
Profiles the founders and the inaugural competition, where eight student projects were presented to an expert panel.
Read the article → Stu News Newport · April 11, 2025Students from CdM High and Sage Hill schools vie at 2nd Annual EcoInnovation Competition
Covers the second annual competition, where seven finalists pitched to industry experts before about 100 attendees.
Read the article →2026 EcoInnovation Competition.
Bring EcoInnovators to your school.
Join an existing chapter, start a new one, or step into a judging or sponsor role for next year's competition.