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for the Higher Education Challenge.

Emergency management is an ever-changing field.  No two disasters are alike, and the steps needed to prepare for and respond to them are equally as fluid.  Fresh perspectives and innovative ideas are a necessity in creating a safer, more resilient future for our communities.  That is why the New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Association  is proud to host our Higher Education Challenge—an invitation for our up-and-coming emergency managers to present their insights and solutions into the changing climate of emergency management.

Thank you to our 2026 Higher Education Challenge Sponsor EM Partners!!

As a leading emergency management consulting firm, they build strong partnerships through empowerment, knowledge, and trust in delivering full spectrum emergency management services.

They work with local, state, federal and private clients in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Prizes
 

Prizes will be awarded to the individual/team members who best presents a clearly defined topic. 

The presentation that excels in the scoring criteria will receive:

• Winner recognition photo
• A monetary award.
  • 1st Prize – monetary award of up to $1500
  • 2nd Prize – monetary award of up to $1000
  • 3rd Prize – monetary award of up to $500

Timeline

• October 1, 2025: Challenge Registration Opens 

• March 1, 2026: Challenge Registration Closes at 11:59pm 

• March 8, 2026: Last day for NJEPA proposal acceptance notifications to go out 

• March 22, 2026: Last day to register for the NJEPA Conference to be eligible to participate in the Higher Education Challenge 

• March 31, 2026: Deadline for submission of presentation slides 

• April 23, 2026: Presentations will take place (9AM-12PM) 

• April 23, 2026: Winner announced at Young Professionals' Event (1PM-5PM)

Challenge Details

Overview

Students and recent graduates are invited to submit an online application to enter the Higher Education Challenge.  As part of the application process, applicants will give a brief description of their chosen topic and any relevant key points.  Topics can be taken from past assignments they've completed during their higher education coursework or can be newly developed for this challenge. Applicants can apply individually or in groups of up to 3 people.

The Higher Education Challenge will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9AM, where students will give 10-15 minute presentations on their chosen topics.  Presentations will be scored by a panel of judges using a pre-set rubric (see below for details).  Special attention will be given to topics and presentations where students can successfully articulate their own insights and proposed solutions for the issue(s) they've identified in emergency management.

The winners of the Higher Education Challenge will be announced, and prizes will be awarded at the Young Professionals' Engagement Event taking place Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 1PM.

Topic Selection

Presentations should address a challenge or issue seen in the field of emergency management and include a proposed solution (or solutions) to that problem.  Proposed solutions do not need to be original ideas but should be credited to whoever or wherever the idea came from.

Topics can cover any pertinent field in any phase of Emergency Management: Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, or Recovery.  Potential themes may include threats & solutions in the field; analysis of disasters (i.e., response & recovery); analysis of systems & processes; emerging technology & techniques; etc.  Fields may include any of the following disciplines: Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Public Safety, Public Health, Planning, Physical and Natural Sciences, Technology Development, Alert and Warning, Communications, Public Information, Sociology, Human Behavior, Economics, Public Administration, etc.

Topics can be taken from past assignments completed during applicants’ higher education coursework or can be newly developed for this challenge.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students, recent Associate or Bachelor’s level graduates (within six (6) months of competition registration), and Master’s level students from a qualifying higher education institution (i.e. any school with an Emergency Management, Homeland Security or any Public Safety program, degree, or certificate) are eligible to participate.  Doctoral candidates/graduates are not eligible to participate.

Proof of eligibility (e.g. copy of current class schedule, proof of recent graduation) will be required as part of the proposal submission.

Competition Registration

To submit a proposal,click on the proposal submission button. You will need to create a profile and log in (see instructions on the Homepage tab).  Once logged in, you can submit your proposal by clicking on the "My Submissions" tab in the top left tool bar and then "add new". Registration is open between October 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026 at 11:59PM.

To register you will need the following: 

* The name(s) of the individual(s) in your group with contact information

* Your higher education institute affiliation

* The major(s) of the group member(s) ​​​​​

* Proof of eligibility (e.g. copy of current class schedule, proof of recent graduation)

* Short title (max. 100 characters)

* Summary of your presentation (100-500 words)

The NJEPA team will review your submission and notify you of acceptance of the proposal on a rolling basis, but no later than March 8, 2026.  If your submission does not meet the challenge requirements, the group member(s) will be notified and provided the opportunity to update their submission before the March 1, 2026, registration deadline. Be sure to register early to allow time for updates, if needed.

Note: All selected presenters will be required to register for the 2025 conference by March 22, 2026, to be eligible to participate. Any questions regarding the challenge can be submitted to HigherED@njepa.org.

Presentation

The Higher Education Challenge will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 9AM-12PM. Presentations should be between 10-15 minutes in length.  Judges will be scoring presentations based off the provided presentation rubric (see below).  The best presentations will be ones that clearly articulate the topic, keep the audience engaged, and make good use of any audio/visual aids.  Special attention will be given to topics and presentations where students can successfully articulate their own insights and proposed solutions for the issue(s) they've identified in emergency management.

Criteria/Scoring

NJEPA Presentation Rubric

The above NJEPA Presentation Rubric identifies the scoring criteria that will be used by the judges in evaluating presentations during the Higher Education Challenge at the NJEPA Conference. The final score will be used to determine the most successful team of the Challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible for the Challenge?

A: The Challenge is open to students who are enrolled in an undergraduate or Master's program and can attend the NJEPA Conference in-person to present.   Students who have graduated within the last 6 months from undergraduate programs are eligible to participate.  Proof of enrollment or graduation date required and can be demonstrated by sending the Higher Ed Team a copy of transcripts, current class schedule (with date included), or proof of graduation date.  

Q: When will participants need to register for the conference?

A: Participants must be registered for the conference to take part in the Challenge. 

Note: Your registration will allow you to attend any of the Training (pre-registration is required) and Breakout Sessions you are interested in, as well as take advantage of the breakfasts, breaks, Vendor Reception and Conference Luncheon. If your school is interested in paying as a group, contact HigherEd@NJEPA.org for more information.

Q: Will there be separate judging categories for graduate and undergraduate students?

A: Graduate and undergraduate students will be judged together for this year’s Challenge. Splitting of graduate vs. undergraduate may be evaluated for Challenges in future years.

Q: We are considering building our team from several disciplines; can we do that?

A: Absolutely. Looking for answers to the issues arising in emergency management and public safety requires, in many cases, bringing together several disciplines to find the best solution(s). This kind of collaboration is encouraged in our profession.  However, the team size cannot go above the maximum of three team members.

Q: Can a school enter more than one team?

A: Yes. The profession of emergency management requires multiple disciplines to problem solve and best protect the people we serve. We hope to see a wide variety of topics presented as part of the Challenge, so we encourage schools to send as many teams, with as many solutions as they can.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of submissions from one institution?

A: No. Students can only submit once, but multiple students from the same institution can submit.

Q: I just graduated; can I enter the Challenge?

A: The Challenge is open to current students or new graduates that have graduated from an undergraduate program within six (6) months of registering for the Challenge.

Q: What are the restrictions on the presentation format?

​​​​​​A: You may use any format that is compatible with PowerPoint.   No standard PowerPoint template is required to be used.  Participants are expected to adhere to the overall time length of 10-15 minutes per presentation.

Q: Should the schools review the submission of the paper and presentation before it is submitted to NJEPA?

A: Yes. We encourage you to keep in contact with your sponsors, as you are representing your school; however, the solutions and paper should be the work of your team. In our profession, updating leadership and partners is routine for gathering input and staying focused, so this should become part of your project where possible.

Q: Will the proposal and presentation be reviewed by NJEPA before judging for integrity?

A: NJEPA expects all students to complete their proposal and presentation with integrity.  Any concerns over integrity will be addressed by the NJEPA on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Who will be the judges?

A: Your proposals will be judged and selected for advancement by the NJEPA Higher Education Team. Your presentation will be judged by at least three experienced members of the emergency management community, including representatives from:

• The NJ Office of Emergency Management
• The Challenge Sponsor
• NJ Emergency Preparedness Association