Steps to Complete the Challenge

The 2025-2026 Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact

An opportunity nationally recognized for innovation in sustainability education, the Bronco Challenge invites all full-time WMU students to compete for financial prizes. Students will form interdisciplinary teams to tackle problems that challenge the survival of civilization.

2025-26 Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact Pertinent Details.

All students are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of the rules and expectations found below in the student play book.

STUDENT PLAYBOOK


 

Start Date: Beginning of Fall Semester

Welcome to the Bronco Challenge! This exciting competition invites teams of students to develop innovative solutions addressing pressing social, environmental, and economic issues. Below, you will find all the necessary details including the Schedule to events and deliverables, to participate and succeed in the challenge.

 

Challenge Deliverables : 

Format Requirements:

  • Document Specifications: 8.5” x 11” paper, 12 pt Times New Roman font, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, numbered pages, PDF format.
  • Cover Page: Include title, authors' names, and the date.
  • Graphics and Videos: Use graphics to enhance explanations and include hyperlinks to any complementary videos (max 3 minutes).

 

Phase 1 : Team Formation and Proposal Submission(September through November 13)

Due Date: November 13, 2025, by 5 pm

September 18 – Business Bash (Table event) – Schneider Hall Atrium – 11 am – 2 pm  

September 19 – WMU Sustainability Celebration (Table event) – 11am– 2pm – Plaza near Student Center and Kanley Chapel

Learn about the Challenge and ask questions 

October 1 &  October  7 – Project Proposal Workshops – 2 – 5 pm (optional) 

  • October 1- Student Center - Ballroom B 
  • October 7 – Student Center – Ballroom A 

Meet and network with students from all majors to discuss project ideas and make connections with potential team members.  Faculty and sponsor representatives will be invited to attend and assist with formulating project ideas. 

November 13 – Project Proposals due - 5 pm (Required) 

Submit project proposals in accord with instructions in the Bronco Challenge Playbook. Late proposals will not be accepted. 

November18 – Announcement of accepted proposals  

All teams will be notified whether their proposal is accepted to participate in the Challenge. There is no requirement to reduce the number of participating teams at this point. 

November 20-25 – Brief project review (date and time to be arranged) – Schneider Hall Lobby 

At least 2 members of each project team will meet for 30 minutes with Dr. Drobny to review the team’s plans for kicking off their project. 

Submission: Email to Professor Neil Drobny, PhD at Neil.Drobny@wmich.edu

Page Limit: 7 pages

Proposal Contents:

  1. Project Scope and Objectives
  2. Project Inspiration
  3. Solution Vision
  4. Solution Advantages
  5. Project Management
  6. Solution Implementation
  7. Supporting Resources
  8. Team Member Profiles

Note: Proposals missing any of the above items or being considerably less than 7 pages will not be accepted.

 

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be critiqued on clarity, grammar, writing style, and completeness.

Phase 2 : Progress Report ( February 2-11)

Dates: February 2-11, 2025

Following instructions in the Bronco Challenge Playbook, Teams will arrange with the WMU Communications Center (in Schneider Hall) to make an oral progress report on their Challenge project. Teams will receive feedback on the content of their work and on the presentation format and their presentations skills. Teams will have an opportunity to record their presentation. 

February 13 – Announcement of teams selected to proceed to Phase 3 

Teams judged not to have made adequate progress on their project to be competitive in Phase 3 will be advised. There is no requirement to reduce the number of participating teams at this point. 

Format: In-person meeting with Dr. Drobny and a Comm Center staff member

Report Contents:

  • 10-minute PowerPoint Presentation
  • Follow-up Q&A Session

Evaluation Areas:

  1. Project Drivers
  2. Improvements
  3. Solution Detail
  4. Implementation Testing
  5. Supporting Resources
  6. Priority Tasks

Feedback will be provided immediately after the meeting.

Phase 3 : Final Evaluations

Final Report Due Date: March 18, 2026, by 5 pm Page Limit: 5 pages

March 18 – Submit Written Final Reports 5 pm (Required) 

Submit project proposals in accord with instructions in the Bronco Challenge Playbook. Late reports will not be accepted. 

March 23 – Announcement of Teams selected to make oral presentations 

Based on a review of the final reports, a maximum of 5 teams will be selected to make an oral presentation to formal panel of judges.  

April 3 – Oral Presentations (Schneider Hall Room 2500 (8 am – Noon))

In accord with details outlined in the Bronco Challenge Playbook, up to five teams will deliver oral presentations. After the presentations, judges will combine the scores on the written reports and the presentations and the teams with the three highest combined scores will be announced and declared to be the winners. 

After the winners are announced, everyone in attendance will be invited to lunch where students and judges can informally discuss the projects. 

Report Contents:

  1. Detailed Solution Description
  2. Path of Inquiry
  3. Business Plan
  4. Lessons Learned
  5. Mentors and Experts

Oral Presentation:

  • Date: April 3, 2026 (Schneider Hall (8 am – Noon) 
  • Format: 15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A
  • Location: Schneider Hall, Room 2150, Haworth College of Business

The presentation will be live-streamed and recorded.

Terms & Conditions :

Eligibility: Teams must have 4 members from at least two disciplines, all full-time students in good standing at WMU, and enrolled full time in both Fall and Spring semesters.

Financials: No participation fee. Teams bear any material costs. Cash awards are subject to taxes.

Intellectual Property: Submitted materials remain the property of the team but can be used by WMU for non-commercial promotion.

 

Contact :

The Bronco Challenge Leadership team will be available to meet with teams or individuals to provide guidance and assistance in finding a team, recruiting team members, selecting a project, etc.

Contact Professor Neil Drobny, PhD with any questions: @email