R4R's
STUDENT for RESILIENCE PROGRAM
Students for Resilience (S4R)
Awards and Showcase
Application information Form
Call for Student Project Nominations
Student-led ideas - Real-world water solutions.
Residents for Resilience invites middle and high school students across Broward County to submit student-led projects that tackle real-world water challenges impacting our community.
This program is designed to help students move from ideas to action through mentorship, hands-on learning, public recognition, and an end-of-year showcase.
🌎 Why This Matters
Water affects everything — what we drink, where we live, and the health of our environment.
South Florida faces increasing challenges like flooding, pollution, and threats to drinking water and marine life. These challenges will impact your generation the most.
This program matters because:
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Students bring fresh ideas
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Real solutions start with awareness and creativity
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You don’t have to wait until college to make an impact
This is more than a competition —
it’s a chance to turn ideas into action, work with mentors,
and be recognized for making a difference.
Focus Areas
Projects must address at least one of R4R’s four critical water issues:
💧 Drinking Water Safety
🌧️ Flood Mitigation
🌿 Stormwater Management
🌊 Waterway Restoration & Marine Health
👩🎓Who Can Participate
Open to middle school and high school students
-Students must live in or attend school in Broward County
-Teams of 1–5 students
-Cross-school teams are welcome
-Mixed-grade teams compete at the highest grade level represented
**Adult contact required for all teams
(parent, teacher, or school administrator)
Finalists
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6–10 finalists per level
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Receive mentorship from our expert advisory team
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Present at the Showcase
Awards
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Top 3 projects per level
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Honorable Mentions (as determined by judges)
💡 Project Categories
(Choose one primary category)
*Engineering & Design Solutions
*Scientific Research & Data Analysis
*Technology & Innovation
(apps, sensors, AI, GIS, data tools)
*Education, Policy & Community Outreach
*Art, Media & Storytelling for Water Awareness
📝 What to Submit
Students will complete one online application that includes:
Project Summary (500–750 words)
Tell us:
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What is the problem, and why does it matter?
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What is your proposed solution or idea, and what makes it innovative?
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What stage is your project in?
(idea, prototype, testing, pilot, research, etc.) -
What is your impact goal?
Who benefits, and how could success be measured?
Optional Attachments
📷 Photos, drawings, diagrams, slides
🎥 Short videos, links, or data
Selection, Mentorship & Showcase
*Phase 1 — Project Review
Projects are reviewed by judges based on:
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Alignment with water issues
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Creativity and innovation
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Feasibility
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Potential impact
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Clear communication
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*Phase 2 — Finalists & Mentorship
Finalists receive:
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At least one mentor check-in per month
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Optional virtual office hours for additional support
*Phase 3 — Showcase & Awards
Finalists present their projects at the
Students for Resilience Innovation Showcase
Presentation formats may include:
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Poster or demonstration displays
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Short presentations (approximately 5 minutes)
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Optional Q&A, time permitting
Safety & Sharing
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All projects must follow appropriate safety practices
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Projects must comply with local and state regulations
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Students retain ownership of their work
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R4R may share projects publicly for education and outreach
(proprietary details may be generalized)
**Adult contact required for students and teams
(parent, teacher, or school administrator)
🗓 Showcase Event: May 2026 (Date TBA)
👉 REGISTER BELOW
Residents for Resilience (R4R) is a nonprofit focused on four critical water issues:
drinking water safety, flood mitigation, stormwater management, and waterway restoration.
The Students for Resilience (S4R) Showcase celebrates student projects that explore these issues through research, design, innovation, education, or creative storytelling. Selected projects will be displayed publicly and reviewed by R4R’s Expert Advisory Team.
This is an opportunity for students to:
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Share work beyond the classroom
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Receive expert feedback
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Gain public recognition
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Help shape real-world water solutions
For more information contact us at:
info@residentsforresilience.org
R4R Summer Internship Program is designed to provide motivated students with a unique opportunity to engage directly in real-world environmental resilience work. Interns work alongside community leaders, environmental specialists, and educators to research, design, and propose actionable solutions to some of our most pressing water-related challenges.
This summer, Parker has been diligently developing the structure, goals, and rollout plan for our new Students for Resilience Program. Her work will help launch a long-term initiative that will engage and empower students to become active leaders in nature-based solutions, marine waterway restoration, flood mitigation, and public education.
Parker shares her incredible experience at the Research Scholars Hawaii Program below.
We are absolutely thrilled to have her as part of the R4R team and can’t wait to work alongside her—and all the passionate students who will join our Students 4 Resilience program.
Together, we’re building a movement led by the next generation of environmental leaders! 🌱🌊✨
🌊 A Big Thank You to New River Middle School! 🌊
R4R would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to New River Middle School and Broward County’s Marine Science Magnet Program, along with Magnet Coordinator Elizabeth Fahy, for inviting us to participate in their fantastic 3rd Annual Mission Possible:
Sharks in Action Event.
This incredible event focused on educating the community about the importance of our priceless waterways and promoting their Living Shoreline project, which is actively progressing at the back of their riverfront campus with newly planted mangroves!
Tricia Halliday and I were truly impressed by the educational, marine environmental project-based learning activities showcased by the teachers and their students. Many of these nature based activities were relevant to our R4R future waterway remediation goals!
This impressive community engagement not only educated attendees but also brought together local stakeholders, including Nova Southeastern University marine specialist, SEAFAN, US Army Corps of Engineers, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundations, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Specialists, @Representative Chip LaMarca, MangroLife’s Jessica Basi, and Katherine O’Fallon from Marine Research Hub of South Florida —who previously served as the coordinator of this excellent school for over 10 years. It was so inspiring to see the younger generation actively engaged in critical waterway issues.
We wholeheartedly support their future “Mission Possible” dream of a FLOATING CLASSROOM, which aims to transform a portion of their waterfront campus into an extension of the New River shoreline, complete with mangroves, oysters, and an enhanced marine environmental learning experience!
Thank you once again for the opportunity to be part of such an impactful event!
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