ASU’s Change the World is coming to Mountain America Stadium
Arizona State University is bringing its annual Change the World experience, an exhibitory and symbolic showcase, to Mountain America Stadium on March 19, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ASU prides itself on innovation and lifelong learning, evidenced by its 10-year-long run as number one in innovation, according to the U.S. News & World Report. This event culminates into an experience where students can showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills and talent to change the world.
The football stadium will be reimagined into a stage where students will get the chance to impress a panel of judges composed of fellow students and ASU faculty. Students, from both ASU and local High Schools will be participating in a variety of categories, including music performances, art displays and idea pitches.
The judges will grade each participant, and the top performers of each category will receive scholarships up to $1,000, in addition to prize money for specific topics such as health and sustainability.
Dallas Salas is a graduate student studying healthcare innovation who graduated with a bachelor’s in neuroscience at ASU when he was just 18. He is volunteering as the student lead for the art committee of this year’s event, focusing on bringing the community together to create impactful ideas.
“This event helps change the world because we're able to foster ideas, we're able to think about new things and encapsulate them because when you spread out ideas, it's a lot different than having your own ideas in your head,” Salas said. “You're able to see different people's ideas and then you're able to come and merge them with your own ideas and then we're able to create new innovations and new technology.”
Salas will be showcasing an art display of his own, describing it as a Fibonacci sequence painting. He was inspired to take part in this event partly because of the collaboration it brings but also because it symbolizes how he overcame obstacles in his upbringing to get where he is today.
“Based on my personal experience — my upbringing of dealing with homelessness, domestic violence and medical malpractice — truly inspired me to tackle the obstacles of the world, the things that matter most,” Salas said.
Richard Hauck is a graduate student in ASU’s School of Sustainability and School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, involved with the planning task force for 2025’s Change the World and a part of the subcommittee for art and performance. Hauck hopes students who attend this event will not be afraid to share some of their own ideas.
“I know a lot of students might not think that their ideas are super important or valid, but whatever small change they're making in the world does make a difference, and this event is there to showcase that and inspire other students to get involved,” Hauck said.
Hauck believes that Change the World gives students a unique opportunity to make an impact beyond the ASU community.
“It shows students that they can be more involved not just in the ASU community but outside ASU and that goes directly with ASU's charter of making a difference in the world,” Hauck said.
Last year’s event produced a number of exciting performances and groundbreaking ideas that have already proven to have changed the world. W. P. Carey student Sam Bregman received honors in last year’s event for pitching his electrolyte strips that allow for nutrients to be delivered directly to the bloodstream. Bregman has since created a company called Melts and has received $50,000 to continue his product.
Mechanical engineering student Ben Voller-Brown won first place for his pitch about malaria prevention kits. He got the opportunity to travel to Africa to distribute his net repair kits to help stop the spread of malaria in the region. Sustainability solutions student Jason Marmon won second place for his pitch about a Carbon Summit and went on to create that Summit at ASU, which serves to create sustainable solutions for food systems, energy transitions, circular economies, climate adaptation and sustainability.
More innovative ideas are sure to be heard this year, along with exciting performances and dazzling art displays. Be sure to RSVP to the event to not miss any of the action and see how students can truly change the world.