Student Video Challenge

CTE Month® and NASA HUNCH 2025-26 Student Video Challenge

ACTE and NASA HUNCH are proud to launch the eighth annual Student Video Challenge, inviting learners nationwide to explore the power of career and technical education (CTE) through the lens of space exploration and project-based learning. This challenge offers students the chance to showcase how CTE programs prepare them for success in high-demand careers — on Earth and beyond.

As we approach ACTE’s 100-year anniversary in 2026, this milestone year’s challenge carries even greater significance. For a century, ACTE has championed the role of CTE in shaping the workforce and inspiring careers, and now, in partnership with NASA HUNCH, we look to the next 100 years of innovation, discovery and possibility.

2025–26 Video Theme: Gateway to the Cosmos — NASA’s Lunar Outpost
NASA’s Gateway will serve as a vital steppingstone for humankind’s return to the Moon and exploration of deep space. In what ways will Gateway missions help us, and what new sciences, technologies, or resources could they offer to benefit humankind? This year, students are challenged to imagine those answers while also highlighting the CTE courses and careers that make these missions possible. Together, let’s celebrate a century of CTE excellence while inspiring the next generation of innovators who will lead us into the cosmos.

The contest is open to students of all ages, including elementary, middle school, high school and postsecondary students in any school or who is homeschooled. Students may enter as individuals or as a team. However, students can submit only one video per year.

Interested in Sponsoring the Video Challenge? Please contact Julia Kendrick at ACTE or Loy W.  Trevino at NASA HUNCH if you are interested in sponsoring the video challenge via scholarships to winning students.

  • Deadline to submit your video is April 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
  • Video entries must be 2 minutes or less in length and include name of school, year (2025-26), and names of video creators and participants (credits)
  • Entries must incorporate the CTE Month and NASA HUNCH logos.
  • Entries must incorporate the following message, presented as text on-screen and/or spoken by talent: “Learn more about career and technical education at ctemonth.org and NASA HUNCH at nasahunch.com.”
  • Videos must be a minimum video resolution of 1280 x 720 format, or an audio independent format (e.g., Instagram square composition).
  • Teachers and students will need to fill out different forms that can be found here. Note that teachers will need to first email eloy.w.trevino@nasa.gov to receive an authorization code, and after they receive an authorization code, they can then sign up their students.
  • Videos can be presented in their language of choice. However, if not in English, please include readable subtitles.
  • To finalize a submission, email the YouTube link to videochallenge@acteonline.org and provide a phone number, email and mailing address for both student and educator contacts.
  • Entries that contain music or other copyrighted media must be accompanied by proof that entrants have the expressed permission of the original copyright holder. The following are examples of appropriate proof:
    • The name of the song along with the receipt from the school’s purchase of the song
    • A link to the website or Youtube video featuring the song
    • A signed letter or form stating that the music was created by a student in Garage Band or another program and that the student has been given permission for the music to be used royalty free

Please note: ACTE and NASA HUNCH retain the copyright on any submitted material and reserve the right to use the material in any way or format they see fit. Entries cannot be used for any commercial activity.

ACTE and NASA HUNCH will announce by May 16 the three winners. Student videos should strive to be creative, inspiring and educational.

  • NASA HUNCH will award the winning schools flown HUNCH patches (flown on the International Space Station!) with plaques
  • ACTE will award the winning schools $200 each, and each winning team member (maximum of 6 students per team) a $50 Amazon gift card.

Winning videos will be:

  • Promoted to ACTE members on ACTE’s CTE Month webpage, in ACTE News, in Techniques magazine, via ACTE’s social media channels and in other ACTE’s communication channels.
  • Shared with NASA HUNCH schools, at HUNCH Recognition Ceremonies, the CTE community and the general public throughout the year.

View last year’s winners

Winning videos for NASA HUNCH and CTE Month 2025-26 Student Video Challenge should strive to:

  • Engage and inform about CTE and project-based learning
  • Show that CTE and project-based learning leads to successful careers
  • Show the role of CTE and project-based learning in a strong national economy
  • Show how space exploration benefits the people on earth as well as those in space

The following links have hundreds of NASA resources and videos that you’re welcome to use the footage from:

We also encourage you to view the collection of winning videos from previous years.

  • The NASA HUNCH and ACTE staff will judge the videos and narrow selections down to approximately the top 6.
  • ACTE’s Board of Directors and administrators at NASA’s Johnson Space Center will select the final winners of the video challenge.

For more information or questions about submissions, please contact Julia Kendrick at ACTE or Loy W. Trevino at NASA HUNCH.

About CTE Month® and NASA HUNCH

ACTE, empowering educators to deliver high-quality CTE programs that ensure students are positioned for career success, is host to the annual CTE Month awareness campaign held each February. HUNCH stands for High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware and is looking to extend its message of inspiring students through project-based learning to CTE students across the nation. NASA HUNCH high schools offer students the opportunity to launch their careers through the participation in the design and fabrication of real world valued products for NASA.