The 17th annual Emoti-Con NYC Youth Digital Media & Tech Challenge brought together more than 450 student creators from 21 AI Design League schools across the New York City region, shining a spotlight on the next generation of tech and design talent. On May 29, Mouse hosted an inspiring in-person celebration at Amazon’s midtown Manhattan office, welcoming students and educators from 12 schools. The day featured motivational talks from industry professionals, student project presentations, and lively career networking. Nearly 50 volunteer mentors from companies including Amazon, NYU, Google, CVS Health, Verizon, AusomeTech, and BlackRock helped make the day unforgettable!

At the same time, our virtual competition ran from May 12 through May 30, with 100 professionals from the tech, media, and design industries serving as volunteer judges. Each student project was evaluated for creativity, technical skill, thoughtful design, and social impact. We’re incredibly grateful to our judges for their time, insight, and encouragement.

To all student creators: Your Emoti-Con project pages will continue to be live for you to share on your portfolios, resumes, or college applications. 

Congratulations to every student and educator who participated, and a special shoutout to our 2025 Emoti-Con Award Winners and Finalists! 

🏆 2025 Award Highlights

Overall Excellence

High School Winner: 

!EmPow! – Thomas A. Edison CTE High School (Queens, NY)
An app created to empower youth to build confidence and explore career paths through financial literacy and access to career-building opportunities.

Middle School Winner: 

Raised Planters for the Roof Garden – I.S. 276 Battery Park City (Manhattan, NY)
A design and manufacturing project that improves the school’s roof garden with long-lasting planters built for accessibility and optimal plant growth.

Digital Innovation

Winner: 

Construction Cove – New Dorp High School (Staten Island, NY)
An app that supports a digital bartering network for businesses seeking more sustainable and shock-resistant sourcing strategies.

Finalists:

• Know Your Rights – Bronx International High School (Bronx, NY)
  An app that helps users understand and defend their human rights with accessible legal information.
• Green Guardian – Thomas A. Edison CTE High School (Queens, NY)
  A game that educates players about pollution and environmental protection through park-cleanup gameplay.

Human-Centered Design

Winner: 

MigrantMate – Thomas A. Edison CTE High School (Queens, NY)
An app supporting immigrants by connecting them to job opportunities, training, and certifications.

Finalists: 

• NYC Pest Tracker – High School for Environmental Studies (Manhattan, NY)
  A mapping tool to report and track pests like rats and cockroaches across the city.
• RIFA: Revolutionizing Immigration for All – High School for Environmental Studies (Manhattan, NY)
  A navigation app that helps low-income users access essential services within their budget.

Thank You and Congratulations!

👏 Congratulations to all AI Design League student teams who presented virtually, at school-based showcases, and in person at Amazon. You can explore all 168 projects at emoticon.mouse.org. 

👏 Thank you to the educators, families, and school staff who guided and supported students throughout the process. 

👏 A heartfelt thanks to all the professional mentors who inspired our students during the school year. 

👏To our 100 judges: thank you for your thoughtful reviews and feedback. Your words help students grow as innovators and future professionals. 

👏 A special thank you to Amazon for hosting our in-person celebration and helping make it a day to remember. 

Learn more about Emoti-Con: https://emoticon.mouse.org/about