JCU Announces Spring 2025 Triggering Change Competition Winners
John Cabot University is pleased to announce the winners of the Spring 2025 Triggering Change Competition. Triggering Change is a two-minute pitch that can be done by students individually or in pairs, and that aims to develop creative solutions to inspire action on sustainability. Students’ pitches addressed complex global challenges with innovation and purpose. This semester’s competition focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) numbers 4, “Quality Education,” and 5, “Gender Equality.” JCU students were joined by participants from other institutions, including Oxford Brookes University, Richmond American University in London, and the University of Arkansas Rome Center.
Winners
Michela Colarusso (John Cabot University)
To address SDG 4, Michela proposed “Education Cycle,” a program that breathes new life into old educational tools. Her initiative focuses on collecting unused books, refurbishing outdated laptops and tablets to redistribute them to under-resourced schools and remote learners worldwide.
“Triggering Change showed me how creative ideas can drive real impact when rooted in sustainability,” Michela said. “This experience taught me that meaningful change often begins with a simple, thoughtful question.”
Nicolette Klibson (John Cabot University)
Nicolette tackled SDG 5 with her creative proposal for the “Leadership Parity Accelerator,” which places high-potential women in rotational executive roles in order to gain leadership experience. Unlike traditional mentorship programs, the accelerator emphasizes sponsorship, providing women with real access to decision-making spaces and empowering them to lead across different sectors.
“After the prep sessions from international experts like Madiha Rehman and Kiki James, I felt incredibly inspired to pair business, sustainability and social development,” said Nicolette. “This competition provided practical, real-world experience in creating sustainable results in social development.”
Finalists
Sean Mortimer (John Cabot University/University of Southern California)
Sean’s project, “Digital Horizons,” creates a virtual education platform that connects certified educators to students in rural or underserved regions, potentially bridging the digital divide.
“This experience allowed me to learn from professionals creating substantial global change, and think of new ideas on how we can use advancements in technology and AI to address global education barriers,” said Sean.
Emma Sjöström, Harrison Lambert, and Carolina de Oliveira Pinto (Richmond American University in London)
Emma, Harrison, and Carolina tackled both SDG 4 and 5 with their pitch: a comprehensive program that brings climate and sustainability education to underserved schools, with a focus on empowering girls.
“I’ve realized that when people have access to learning and fair opportunities, entire communities grow stronger,” said Emma. “This has deepened my passion to understand these goals better and think of ways I can contribute, both now and in the future.”
Ginevra Cecconi and Alessia Faenza (John Cabot University)
Ginevra and Alessia’s pitch, “Women Up,” is a mentorship and skills development initiative for young women aged 14–25.
“It was inspiring to work on sustainability-related topics that are so crucial to our future,” said Ginevra. “I gained invaluable skills in communication, staging, and video production, which enhanced my ability to effectively present ideas.” Alessia added: “Being chosen as one of the eight finalists was a significant honor that increased my faith in the value of my work.”
Aries Collins (University of Arkansas)
Aries took a unique and powerful approach by submitting a spoken-word poem, titled A Future Unbound, highlighting how access to learning can amplify voices that are often silenced.
Aries said: “This experience showed me the importance of using art to advocate for equal educational opportunities and gender justice.”
Sam Breeding (University of Arkansas)
Sam’s pitch tackled the problem of gender inequality in sports. She proposed implementing Title IX-style legislation (which is applied in the American educational system) across the EU to prohibit sex-based discrimination in athletics.
“Triggering Change gave me a platform to develop my advocacy skills and engage with differentperspectives,” said Sam. “This opportunity empowered me to grow both intellectually and personally, and reinforced the value of young voices in driving meaningful change.”.
Congratulations to all participants and thank you for your commitment to making a difference! Learn more about sustainability at JCU.
