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Who won the 2025 World Solutions Challenge competition?

The top three Rising Sea Levels 2025 World Solutions Challenge winners and honorable mentions were announced on November 18, 2025 by Future Problem Solving Executive Director April Michele. Teams of 2 to 4 students in junior grades 5 to 6 (ages 10-12) and middle grades 7 to 8 (12-14) submitted action plans solving a core problem related to Rising Sea Levels.

Junior Division

First PlaceThe Coastal Green Shield Initiative
Alexandra, Maya, Simone
Robert E. Willett Elementary
CALIFORNIA
Second PlaceSmart Drains to Keep Routes Open
Claire, Ella, Jasmine, Serena
Diocesan School for Girls
NEW ZEALAND
Third PlaceFloating Cities and Sea Walls
Anandita, Indigo, Isra
Cedar Hill Prep School
NEW JERSEY
Honorable MentionSmall Things Save Lives, Preparing for Rising Sea Levels
Aaradhiya, Nilaa, Sadhana
(Team Planet Protectors)
Fowler Middle School & Riddle Elementary School
TEXAS

Offshore Ridge with a Reshaped Sand Beach
Max, Sattwik, Theodore
Johnson Park Elementary School
NEW JERSEY

Underground Mechanism to Raise/Lower Buildings
Saneesh, Shree
(The Crew)
Noe Middle School & Kentucky Country Day School
KENTUCKY

Middle Division

First PlaceParametric Payouts for Livelihood Continuity
Arjun, Sai
Gum Spring Middle School
VIRGINIA
Second PlaceBangkok Smart Barrier and Wetland Restoration Program
Aaliyah, Kasey, Tanish
Cedar Hill Prep School
NEW JERSEY
Third PlaceAqua Freezing
Agasthya, Shivad, Vedant, Yajur
Cedar Hill Prep School
NEW JERSEY
Honorable MentionSuper Absorbent Flood Barrier
Adhrit, Annie, Kaitlyn, Keani
(Team Tricky Turtles)
Hulstrom K-8 School
COLORADO

The Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Project
Afzaal, Sahasra, Samaira
Cedar Hill Prep School
NEW JERSEY

Auto Orca, The Robot
Helen, Zhao
National Junior College
SINGAPORE

Sponsored by Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, our 2025 virtual problem-solving competition included students from Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, New Zealand, Singapore, Türkiye, and the U.S. (California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island , Texas, and Virginia).

Attachment – 2025 Program Flyer

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April Michele

April Michele Bio

Executive Director

A seasoned educator, April Michele has served as the Executive Director since 2018 and been with Future Problem Solving more than a decade. Her background in advanced curriculum strategies and highly engaging learning techniques translates well in the development of materials, publications, training, and marketing for the organization and its global network. April’s expertise includes pedagogy and strategies for critical and creative thinking and providing quality educational services for students and adults worldwide.

Prior to joining Future Problem Solving, April taught elementary and middle grades, spending most of her classroom career in Gifted Education. She earned the National Board Certification (NBPTS) as a Middle Childhood/Generalist and later served as a National Board Assessor for the certification of others. She was trained and applied the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Humanities, which helped widen the educational scope and boundaries beyond the U.S. In addition, April facilitated the Theory and Development of Creativity course for state level certification of teachers. She has also collaborated on a variety of special projects through the Department of Education.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and the University of South Florida with a master’s in Gifted Education, April’s passion is providing a challenging curriculum for 21st century students so they are equipped with the problem solving and ethical leadership skills they need to thrive in the future. As a board member in her local Rotary Club, she facilitates problem solving in leadership at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute and earned her certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Edyth Bush Institute at Rollins College.