We’re ready to fund impact.
On September 19th from 3:45–5:30 p.m., select UT Austin graduate students will compete in SIC: Social Impact Challenge, pitching innovative, community-driven projects to a live audience. Two teams will take home $5,000 to bring their vision to life.
Secure your seat—RSVP below and select “SIC” from the list of events.
Meet the 2025 Social Impact Challenge cohort
We’re so excited to introduce the four incredible teams selected for this year’s Social Impact Challenge. Over the next few weeks, these teams will be working with expert mentors to refine their ideas and get pitch-perfect for the live event on September 19.
Huge thanks to everyone who applied. Your ideas and passion truly inspired us. Let the countdown begin!
Teaching Story, Stigma, and Mental Health Narratives in Prison
Charlotte Perez, Jo Hurt (COLA)
C.H.E.F.S: Culinary and Healthy Education for Fueling Students
Lauren Bell, MPH, Madilyn Bradley (College of Natural Science)
Cultural Healing Through Story, Song, and Symbol: Exploring Arts-Based Pathways to Behavioral Health in Asian and Asian American Communities
Cheng Chow (Social Work) Hannah Kim (Moody)
LetraLight: Empowering Bilingual Literacy and Well-being
Raquel Silva, Shirley Souza, Cinthia Herrera, Hanyue Sha (College of Education)
Social Impact Challenge
Meet the Mentors
Over the next few weeks, each team will receive expert guidance as they refine their pitches in preparation for the live pitch event on September 19. A huge thank-you to our incredible mentors for generously sharing their time and expertise!
Danielle Parrish, Ph.D.
School of Social Work
Professor; Associate Director of the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute (HBRT)
Parker Hudson, MD, MPH
Dell Medical School
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine; Courtesy Associate Professor, Department of Population Health; Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency; Associate Chair of Education, Department of Internal Medicine
Theme: Using the Arts & Humanities to Improve Behavioral Health.
Eligibility: UT Austin Graduate students
Prize: $5,000
Learn: Receive expert mentorship
Social Impact Challenge
Watch the Recorded Virtual Information Session
Couldn’t make it to the live session? You can still catch up by watching the recording. Learn more about the Social Impact Challenge, including who’s eligible to apply, how the application process works, key deadlines to keep in mind, and what to expect from the mentorship experience.
Important Dates
April 15
Application Opens
May 13
Virtual Information Session
July 15
Application Closes
July 25
Finalists Announced
August
Mentor Meetings
September 19
Pitch Competition – Winners announced live!
May 2026
Conclusion of funded initiatives
