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Expand your horizons
Horizons 2026 Prizes Announced
1st Prize:
$3,000
Runner Up Prizes:
$1,000
+ Exclusive Swag
Horizons 2026 Key Dates
Team Registration Deadline
November 13, 2025
Competition Period
October 2025 - April 2026
Written Options Appraisal Due
February 2026
Final Presentations
April 3, 2026
What is Horizons?
"I have made industry and academic connections that have guided my studies... Truly, Horizons has been transformative."
"Great preparation for life and leadership positions."
What if you could tackle the world's biggest challenges—from housing crises to space exploration to AI ethics—without needing a PhD or years of research experience?
Utah State University's Office of Research presents Horizons, a competition where undergraduate students develop innovative solutions to complex, real-world problems. No research background required—just curiosity, creativity, and the drive to make a difference. Horizons is presented as part of USU’s 2025 Year of Undergraduate Research celebrating 50 years of undergraduate research at USU.
Form interdisciplinary teams, choose from big challenges like mental health, housing, energy, or space exploration, then develop and pitch your solution to expert judges from industry and academia. You won't conduct the research—instead, you'll focus on big-picture thinking and innovative problem-solving.
Starting with over 100 participants, Horizons 2025 culminated with 6 finalist teams presenting groundbreaking solutions on AI and mental health, sustainable space habitats, Utah housing innovation, and educational reform. With the vast majority of participants recommending the experience to others, and over half of participants having had no prior research experience, Horizons has proven to be transformative for students across all majors.
Why Should I Get Involved?
Beyond prizes and the chance to present to decision-makers, Horizons offers:
- Expert mentorship from industry professionals and faculty.
- Exclusive training in the skills that matter: systems thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional pitching.
- Real impact potential: finalist teams receive support to develop their ideas further.
- Proven results: 83% of participants report increased confidence in research abilities.
Ready to join the next generation of problem-solvers? Applications for Horizons 2026 are open now. Whether you're a freshman with big ideas or a senior looking to cap off your USU experience, Horizons welcomes all majors and experience levels.
Questions?
If you have any questions, you can:
How It Works
Select a Challenge
Student teams from different disciplines choose from grand challenges curated by our expert advisors. While we're finalizing the 2026 challenges, you can explore last year's selection to get a sense of what's ahead.
Training and Support
Team mentors and the Office of Research provide training and support
Report on Solutions
Teams produce reports examining possible solutions and identifying an innovative strategy
Pitch Strategy
Teams pitch their strategy to our panel of expert advisors from the public and private sectors
Win Prizes
Winners, selected for creativity, innovation, and feasibility, present to decision-makers and earn valuable prizes
Ways to Engage
Students
Tackle the problems defining your future using research. Learn to innovate, network, and pitch your ideas to decision-makers. Compete for big prizes!
Partners
Share your expertise in business, legislation, community leadership, and academia. Suggest and sponsor a challenge. Assess our contestants and help shape Utah's future workforce.
Advisors
Guide the innovators of tomorrow. We need mentors from all disciplines to help Horizons participants reach their full potential.
Partner with Us
Interested in shaping the future of Utah’s skilled workforce? Get in touch to discuss flexible partnership opportunities.