Change the World 2022 is here!

Every dream begins with a dreamer.

Arizona State University students are known for their innovation and dedication to changing their communities for the better. That's why Sun Devils from across the university and from every field of study were invited to participate in the Change the World Showcase and Competition, which celebrates the many ways ASU students are making a difference through their art, entrepreneurship and good works.

Change the World 2022 was presented on April 12 and 14 on all four ASU campuses, providing students the opportunity to participate in the showcase in their choice of four categories: live performances, art displays, solution exhibits and idea pitches. This year, Woodside Community Impact Awards of up to $500 will provide financial support for student-driven initiatives that will make a positive impact on the ASU community and beyond.

Creating a space where students can showcase their efforts is an important part of the Downtown ASU experience, said Renuka Vemuri, who serves there as the Undergraduate Student Government president. The medical studies major said Change the World is a great opportunity for Sun Devils to showcase the ways they are transforming themselves and their communities.

“Change the World, in conjunction with the opening of Fusion on First on the Downtown campus, has given students great opportunities to come up with ideas and create change,” Vemuri said. “Students have been working on research projects, fashion projects that can be seen in Fusion, music shows, working on initiatives such as the multicultural center and others to engage students and the broader community.”

Change the World is a community event that gives Sun Devils the space to showcase their dreams of making the world a better place, said Gabby Diehl Flowers, student engagement coordinator at Student Connection and Community at ASU's Polytechnic campus. Diehl Flowers said that change is everywhere on campus, from students building awareness of LGBTQIA+ struggles to Black Lives Matter to women making inroads in male-dominated professions to building a solar-powered turbo charging station.

“Students are calling for support and action,” Diehl Flowers explains. “Not just to create a safe space but a brave space – supportive environments so that all students may equally participate in challenging dialogue.”

Diehl Flowers points out creating positive change starts with small items that eventually ripple out into larger things, bringing home the point that one person can indeed make a difference in the world.

“I think it’s important to note that positive change doesn’t have to be a big, grandiose thing,” Diehl Flowers said. “Little things help to put bigger things in motion. For example, tabling to bring awareness to homelessness is just as impactful as hosting a speaker on the topic of homelessness. For both events, important information is being given out to students, staff and faculty.”

Details, including information on past winners, are available at the Change the World website. Winners for 2022's cash prizes of $500, $250 and $125 were announced at the Pitchfork Awards on April 21, 2022. A total of $10,500 was awarded to Sun Devils through the Woodside grant program.