Upcoming Events
December 2nd, 2024 – Application portal opens
March 4th, 2025 – Application/video deadline
March 18th, 2025 – Notify finalists
April 8th, 2025 – Finals
WHAT IS SHOALS SPARK?
Shoals Spark is an idea competition for elementary, middle, and high school students living in the Shoals area of Northwest Alabama. The purpose is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by getting young people in our community to generate unique and creative ideas about how to make the Shoals a very cool place to live and work. Shoals Spark is one of the initiatives under the umbrella of Shoals Shift, which is a creative effort to attract, nurture, and promote the Shoals. Shoals Shift is an initiative funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and involves a variety of local partners including the University of North Alabama, Shoals Chamber of Commerce, Shoals Business Incubator, Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, the UNA Sanders College of Business and Technology, and Bank Independent.
WHAT TYPES OF IDEAS?
We are looking for unique and creative ideas about how to make the Shoals a very cool place to live and work. There are no restrictions on the types of ideas. For example, ideas can be related to business, technology, education, the arts, recreation, families, entertainment, community development, social services, the environment, preservation, sustainability, health care, volunteerism, government, workforce development, philanthropy, special populations (e.g., elderly, homeless), etc. Students can present any idea they think would make the Shoals a better place to live and work.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
- Any elementary, middle, or high school student
- Individuals and/or teams (of any size) may submit multiple ideas
WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?
- Your idea(s) could make a big difference in the Shoals community
- Potential of seeing your idea become a reality by working with the Shoals Shift team
- Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finalists in each division
WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY VIDEO?
To submit your pitch, contestants should upload their video to YouTube and then paste the link to their video in their registration form. Please note that in order for the Shoals Spark team to be able to view the video, it should be listed as a “Public” or “Unlisted” video.
Click HERE to complete your registration!
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE?
- March 4, 2025- Deadline to enter
- March 18, 2025- Finalists will be notified
- April 8, 2025- Final Pitches
QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions, please contact shoalsspark@una.edu
Plan to be a part of the Shoals Spark Competition for 2024!
Shoals Spark, an idea competition for elementary, middle, and high school students living in the Shoals and surrounding counties in Northwest Alabama, was created to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in our community’s young people to generate unique ideas about how to make the Shoals a very cool place to live and work.
Event organizers have placed no restrictions on the types of ideas. For example, ideas can be related to business, technology, education, the arts, recreation, families, entertainment, community development, social services, the environment, preservation, sustainability, health care, volunteerism, government, workforce development, philanthropy, special populations (e.g., elderly, homeless), etc. Students can present any idea they think would make the Shoals a better place to live and work.
Shoals Spark is sponsored by the UNA Sanders College of Business and Technology, Bank Independent, and Shoals Shift.