Eaglecrest AVID Students Lead National T-Shirt Contest, Expanding Student Voice Across the Country

Eaglecrest High School AVID students created and led a national t-shirt design contest that gave AVID students across the country a platform to express what the program means to them through creative design.

The project was part of AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, a college and career readiness program that helps students build the academic, organizational, and leadership skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. For the Eaglecrest students, those skills became more than classroom lessons as they built the contest from the ground up, managed a national campaign, and presented their work to AVID leadership.

Turning a Classroom Idea into a National Campaign

The project began with a challenge: to create a contest that could reach AVID students beyond Eaglecrest and provide them with a way to express what the program means to them.

To manage the national contest, students took on leadership roles across logistics, finance, marketing, and national outreach, with project managers helping guide the work from idea to execution. Together, they built the contest process, promoted it to AVID communities across the country, and created a system for students to submit and share their designs.

Eden Dawit, one of the AVID project managers, said students wanted the contest to give participants a chance to share a side of AVID that is not always seen. 

“Our main goal for this project was to get kids to show their creativity,” Dawit said. “When we think of AVID students, we think of students who take notes and do agenda checks. But these kids have passion and creativity, so we wanted them to be able to share their artistic skills.”

For Dawit, the project also showed the power of student ownership.

“For us students to be leading it is really inspiring for other AVID students to get more involved in their school and show their AVID pride,” Dawit said.

Learning by Leading

As the contest grew, so did the responsibility. Students were not simply participating in a project; they were building the systems that made it possible. They managed deadlines, developed promotional strategies, reviewed budget needs, connected with educators and students in other states, and made decisions that shaped the direction of the national campaign.

They also presented their work to Dr. Thuan Nguyen, President and CEO of AVID Center, an experience that gave students the chance to share how they built the contest and hear directly from national AVID leadership.

Wyatt Thibeau, one of the project managers for the national outreach committee, said the experience helped students practice skills they will carry with them beyond high school.

“One of the biggest takeaways from the project was learning how to pitch to a CEO,” Thibeau said. “Balancing the project on top of school was difficult at times, but it taught us a lot about time management and how to collaborate toward a shared goal.”

Xzavier Saucedo, one of the project managers for finance, said the project taught him the importance of stepping outside his comfort zone. 

“AVID makes you want to go further and make bigger decisions,” Saucedo said. “Once you take that step outside of your comfort zone, you can make way bigger things happen than you think you’re capable of.”

Expanding Student Voice

To build momentum, students used social media, school communications, and direct outreach to connect with AVID students and educators across the country. They studied trends, tested content ideas, and used analytics to improve their approach. One promotional video reached more than 100,000 views.

“There was a lot of trial and error,” said Gianluca Reyes, project manager of logistics. “We had fun making the videos, but we were also learning how to communicate the importance of the contest and work together as a team.”

The national outreach committee helped expand the contest beyond Colorado by connecting with AVID coordinators, teachers, and student groups in different states.

“Our goal was to have a very big scope so we could include the full view of AVID,” said Layla Saulsberry, one of the national outreach committee project managers. “It was not just specifically Colorado or one region. We wanted many different states involved.”

As submissions came in, students saw the contest become more than a design challenge. The artwork and written reflections showed how students across the country connect with AVID in personal ways.

“We saw what AVID meant to them and how it impacted their lives,” said DJ Hoang, one of the project managers for finance. “It was a reflection of what AVID means, not only as an individual, but as a community. AVID prepares us for the future, but it is also a safe space to grow and become better as a person.”

A Student Achievement with National Impact

By the end of the project, the t-shirt contest had grown into more than a creative challenge. Eaglecrest students had built a national platform for student voice and gained confidence through leading a large-scale project from start to finish. 

“We learned new ways to talk to a CEO, create a pitch, calculate financial math, and work as a team,” Reyes said. “We took a big leap this year, and it was scary. But taking that leap of faith made us feel empowered and capable as students.”

Students also began raising money through Double Good Popcorn with the goal of sharing their experience at AVID’s San Diego Summer Institute. They hoped to elevate student voice, show educators how student leadership can create impact beyond the classroom, and share a leadership framework that other AVID communities could learn from.

Through the National AVID T-Shirt Design Contest, Eaglecrest students turned a creative idea into a national student-led achievement. Their work reflects Cherry Creek School District’s commitment to career-connected learning, student voice, and authentic opportunities that help students build the skills, confidence, and purpose they need for the future.