The ASU Summer Experience 2024, held from June 23 to June 28, brought together 26 undergraduate students from seven ASU-Cintana Alliance universities eager to explore the vital themes of sustainability and innovation on the ASU campus. This immersive program offered a variety of sessions, competitions, and exciting activities, making for an unforgettable week.

Global Competition

The Cintana Education Global Competition is an annual initiative that invites students from the ASU-Cintana Alliance to present innovative, entrepreneurial proposals aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition encourages action-oriented ideas that address global challenges while fostering skills essential for professional success, including critical thinking, English communication, presentation, teamwork, time management, innovation, and resiliency.

Participants are expected to submit proposals that create a meaningful impact on their communities, incorporate problem-solving and innovation, emphasize sustainability, leverage technology, and are designed with an entrepreneurial mindset. This competition aims to prepare students for future leadership roles by equipping them with hands-on experience in addressing complex global issues through a sustainable and innovative approach.

The winner of this year’s Cintana Education Global Competition was María Alejandra Mendoza Camberos, an agricultural business engineering student from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), for her innovative project that creates a sustainable, protein-rich livestock feed from the waste produced by industrialized mangoes. Mendoza Camberos started the project during the pandemic while working at a mango dehydrator facility in Rosario, Sinaloa, where she learned about the environmental and financial costs of mango waste. Her project aims to reframe the way industrial food by-products are utilized, offering a sustainable solution that supports both the environment and livestock farming, particularly in regions abundant with nutrient-dense produce. For Mendoza Camberos, the project also holds personal significance, rooted in her family’s love for mangoes.

The runners-up were a team from Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (UIDE), who developed a project that provides affordable, high-quality, and durable vision lenses through an online platform, with a portion of the proceeds supporting reforestation efforts and providing free lenses to those in need. Their initiative aims to make clear vision accessible to everyone, regardless of economic status, while emphasizing sustainability and social equity. The UIDE team, led by Angie Mora Madruñero and Ariana Medina Guerrero, were awarded mentorship opportunities to further develop and scale their business model.

Grand Canyon Trip

Midway through the ASU Summer Experience, students were treated to an unforgettable trip to the Grand Canyon, one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world. This excursion offered participants a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience one of the United States’ most famous landmarks, fostering a deeper connection to the region while offering a refreshing break
from the rigors of the week. 

The trip combined educational insights with adventure as students learned about the geological history of the Grand Canyon, which spans millions of years, and its significance to the region. The shared experience gave students another opportunity to bond and experience the unique landscapes of Arizona, creating lasting memories and connections with peers from different cultural backgrounds as they marveled at the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon.

The 2025 ASU Summer Experience will be held Sunday, June 22 - Saturday, June 28, 2025 in Tempe, AZ. Learn more here.