Join Our Student Challenge

You are a creative marketing team focused on educating and empowering young adults. Your latest task is to develop a video campaign to help young adults ranging between 18 and 22 (Gen Z) understand the real-world importance of insurance as they step into adulthood. 

Gen Z is entering a new phase of life – getting their first jobs, buying cars, signing leases, traveling, and managing their own finances. Yet most have little to no understanding of what insurance is, why it matters, or how it impacts their daily lives. Your task is to design a bold marketing campaign that answers the question: “What should every 18-year-old know about insurance before entering the real world?”

Your campaign should:

• Break down the basics of insurance in a relatable away
• Highlight how insurance protects one’s lifestyle, goals and financial future
• Use creative ways to make the message stick
• Debunk insurance myths and show how insurance is relevant now and in the future
• Bonus: Include an insurance professional

The submission portal will open December 10, 2025 and close on February 6, 2026.

You may only submit (1) entry for the Real World Ready Challenge. We strongly encourage you to submit your entry through our BPA or DECA Corporate Challenge portal that will also open December 10, 2025. We will provide the links here in early November. 

• This challenge consists of two major parts: insurance knowledge and the video presentation. 
• Each team should be comprised of two to four high school students.
• Participants will present their campaign in a video that is between 3 to 5 minutes.
• Submissions must be completed through the online registration form available here.
• Submissions must be received no later than February 6, 2026 to be eligible for awards. 
• All entries will be evaluated to determine the top three submissions. 
• Late entries and entries with videos over five minutes will be disqualified. 
• Please note teams must be based in the United States.  

1. Introduction
   • Identify which types of insurance your campaign will focus on and why they are relevant to Gen Z.
   • Identify your target audience, including demographics, region.
   • Describe key marketing strategies your team will use to connect with Gen Z and stand out from traditional insurance messaging.
   • Describe how you will change the perception of insurance from boring and confusing to empowering and essential.
2. Proposed Marketing Campaign
   • Clearly define the goal of the campaign
   • Proposed key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of your campaign.
   • Incorporate social, print, and email direct marketing strategies.
   • Include project proposal outlining the budget, timeline, campaign expectations, potential challenges.
3. Overall Presentation
   • Focus on key points to stay within 3-5 minute time frame
   • Be visually creative when presenting the marketing campaign
   • Include art, style, tone and sound that is relevant to your target audience
   • Animation, soundtrack and/or any special effects may be used to enhance your overall video presentation, not distract from purpose
   • Consistent volume with audible voices, playback video speed at normal
   • Bonus: Include an insurance professional

Review and Download Evaluation Form – Available Soon. 

• Entry submissions begin December 10, 2025
• Submission deadline is February 6, 2026
• The top 3 teams will be announced by March 13, 2026.
• Each winning team will be presented their official award in person or virtually by a member of the National Invest Team.

The top three teams will be recognized virtually by the National Invest Board. 

NATIONAL GRAND PRIZE: $1,500 cash prize
The national grand prize winning team will also be featured on Invest’s Hall of Fame webpage viewed by insurance business professionals nationwide. In addition, the winning video will be featured on Invest and Invest company partner social media platforms. Lastly, each winner interested in pursuing an insurance career will also be eligible for an Invest classroom to career scholarship. The scholarship will provide a $500 reimbursement for insurance related continued education including insurance pre-licensing courses, certifications, designations and/or collegiate course work focused on insurance and/or risk management. For those interested in pursuing an insurance certification or designation please visit The Institutes and/or The Risk and Insurance Education Alliance to learn more.

FIRST PLACE: $1,000 cash prize
The first-place winning team will also be featured on Invest’s Hall of Fame webpage viewed by insurance business professionals nationwide. In addition, the winning video will be featured on Invest and Invest company partner social media platforms. Lastly, each winner interested in pursuing an insurance career will also be eligible for an Invest classroom to career scholarship. The scholarship will provide a $500 reimbursement for insurance related continued education including insurance pre-licensing courses, certifications, designations and/or collegiate course work focused on insurance and/or risk management. For those interested in pursuing an insurance certification or designation please visit The Institutes and/or The Risk and Insurance Education Alliance to learn more.

SECOND PLACE: $500 cash prize
The second-place winning team will also be featured on Invest’s Hall of Fame webpage viewed by insurance business professionals nationwide. In addition, the winning video will be featured on Invest and Invest company partner social media platforms. Lastly, each winner interested in pursuing an insurance career will also be eligible for an Invest classroom to career scholarship. The scholarship will provide a $500 reimbursement for insurance related continued education including insurance pre-licensing courses, certifications, designations and/or collegiate course work focused on insurance and/or risk management. For those interested in pursuing an insurance certification or designation please visit The Institutes and/or The Risk and Insurance Education Alliance to learn more.

THIRD PLACE: $300 cash prize
The third-place winning team will also be featured on Invest’s Hall of Fame webpage viewed by insurance business professionals nationwide. In addition, the winning video will be featured on Invest and Invest company partner social media platforms. Lastly, each winner interested in pursuing an insurance career will also be eligible for an Invest classroom to career scholarship. The scholarship will provide a $500 reimbursement for insurance related continued education including insurance pre-licensing courses, certifications, designations and/or collegiate course work focused on insurance and/or risk management. For those interested in pursuing an insurance certification or designation please visit The Institutes and/or The Risk and Insurance Education Alliance to learn more.

If your students produce a winning submission, Invest will also provide a pizza lunch to your classroom in honor of you and the winners!

Please reach out to our Invest team

Tania Johnson, Education Program Manager

Whitnee Dillard, Executive Director

Johanna Holling, Volunteer Relations Program Manager