JCU Announces Winners of Spring 2026 Triggering Change
John Cabot University is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Spring 2026 Triggering Change competition. This semester, the competition focused on Sustainable Development Goals SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
As in the past, JCU students interacted with other universities, fostering an international exchange of ideas. JCU was honored to host guest speakers Batoul Moussa, regional education officer for the Middle East and North Africa at Jesuit Refugee Service, and Amneh Shaikh-Farooqui, social entrepreneur and CEO of Polly and Other Stories.
The winners
This edition's two winners were Oxford Brookes University student Loredana Stefanache and University of Arkansas student Caroline Dunn.
Loredana’s pitch addressed SDG 1 and was titled “If Poverty Had a Voice, What Would She Say?” She enacted a conversation between herself and poverty, drawing on her firsthand experiences. Her proposal focused on creating a mentoring program in which students dedicate one hour per week to supporting an immigrant youth.
“This challenge has given me the opportunity to transform my life story into a tool for raising awareness and encouraging change,” Loredana said. “Participating in this competition has deepened my understanding of sustainability and my desire to empower others to grow from victims into change-makers.”
Caroline’s pitch focused on SDG 8, addressing the issue of unpaid or underpaid internships. She proposed the “Fair Work Initiative,” a platform where internships are rated based on pay and fairness, encouraging greater transparency.
She noted: “Through Triggering Change I learned to think more critically about social issues, to communicate my ideas more clearly, and to step outside my comfort zone. It also helped me realize that making a difference doesn’t have to be something huge: it can start with simple, everyday choices.”
Finalists
The finalists also developed thoughtful and impactful projects, all centered on SDG 8.
Minghui Wu (University of Richmond) explored the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, proposing measures to better protect the future workforce.
Jacob Clark and Sofia Fair (University of Notre Dame) presented a solution aimed at making digital financial services more accessible to underserved communities.
“Triggering Change helped me realize how many avenues there are towards living a more sustainable life and building a more sustainable future,” Jacob said. “Many issues remain to be solved, and this competition helped identify them while challenging me to develop creative solutions with real-world applications.”
Finally, Amelia Liebau and Margaret Zschau (University of South Carolina) examined the hidden costs of fast fashion, encouraging more intentional consumption.
“I became more aware of how economic growth and decent work connect to everyday choices,” Amelia said. “Our project on the fast fashion industry highlighted the impact of consumer behavior on exploitative labor practices, especially among young adults, and encouraged me to think more critically about my own habits.”
