Utah high school students pitch clean air solutions
Utah high school students took on air quality challenges this year — not through science labs or policy debates but through marketing campaigns designed to change behavior and spark conversation.
The Utah High School Clean Air Marketing Contest invites students to create advertising campaigns that encourage cleaner air practices. The annual contest culminated in an awards ceremony that showcased student posters aimed to draw attention to clean air.
The program asks students to approach air quality from a communications perspective. Participants designed posters aimed at influencing everyday decisions, such as reducing vehicle idling or promoting alternative transportation.
Edwin Stafford, one of the contest organizers and a marketing professor at Utah State, said the goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world impact.
“We want students to see that marketing can be used for social good,” Stafford said. “They’re not just selling products. They’re thinking about how to change behaviors in ways that improve air quality for their communities.”
According to Stafford, the contest has grown steadily since its inception, drawing entries from schools across the state. Teachers incorporate the competition into marketing and business classes, giving students a structured way to apply concepts they are learning.
Artwork by 2026 Winner Zoe Appel
“Students are incredibly creative,” Stafford said. “They come up with messages and visuals that resonate with their peers in ways adults sometimes can’t.”
At the awards ceremony, many of the finalist posters were showcased and judges’ comments were read aloud. Many projects focused on practical steps individuals can take, emphasizing small actions can collectively make a difference.
Brad L. Mortensen, president of Utah State and a guest judge for the contest, said the quality of the student work stood out.
“The level of thought and effort these students put into their campaigns is impressive,” Mortensen said. “They’re tackling a complex issue and finding ways to communicate it clearly and persuasively.”
Mortensen said competitions like this reinforce the university’s broader mission to serve communities across Utah. By engaging high school students early, the program helps build awareness of environmental challenges while developing communication skills.
“This is about education and engagement,” he said. “Students are learning how to research a problem, craft a message and present it effectively. Those are skills that will serve them well in any field.”
Organizers emphasized the contest is designed to be accessible to a wide range of students. While some participants have prior experience in marketing or graphic design, others are encountering these concepts for the first time.
Stafford said diversity of backgrounds strengthens the program.
“We see students from all kinds of schools and communities,” he said. “Each group brings a different perspective on air quality and how it affects their daily lives.”
According to Stafford, Utah’s air quality challenges, particularly during winter inversions, provide a local context many students recognize. By framing the issue through marketing, the contest encourages participants to think about how public awareness campaigns can influence behavior. Stafford said the long-term aim is to create a generation of students who understand both the science of air pollution and the importance of communication in addressing it.
“If we want lasting change, we need people who can explain why it matters and motivate others to act,” he said.
For Mortensen, watching students present their work offered a glimpse of that future.
“These students are already thinking like leaders,” he said. “They’re identifying problems and proposing solutions. That’s exactly the kind of mindset we want to encourage.”
As the contest continues to expand, organizers hope to involve more schools and reach more students statewide.