The 2026 Arevon Applied Innovation Renewable Energy (AIRE) Competition was officially launched on Nov. 10, as community leaders, corporate partners, and university administrators met on the CSUDH campus to kick off the second iteration of the program.
In partnership with Arevon, a leading renewable energy developer, owner, and operator, CSUDH created the competition in 2024. Its goal is to inspire students, entrepreneurs, and innovators to tackle critical energy challenges.
Open to student teams from CSUDH and local community colleges, the AIRE competition encourages developing bold, practical ideas for advancing renewable energy solutions. Teams will present pitches to a panel of judges for the chance to win part of $30,000 in prize money.
The Nov. 10 event also marked the second year of the Arevon Renewable Energy Innovation Fellows Program, which selects exceptional CSUDH students to participate as Fellows. Through a hands-on experiential learning model, the Fellows will engage with faculty, industry experts, and community partners to deepen their understanding of the renewable energy sector. This year’s Fellow is senior criminal justice major Emily Mejia.
Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes opened the meeting with brief welcome remarks. ““Last year we laid a strong foundation,” she said. “Today, we build on that momentum with more options for students to lead our clean-energy future.”
“Through this partnership, we’re empowering students to come up with new ideas for utilizing renewable energy in their communities,” said Arevon Chief Executive Officer Kevin Smith. “This Program is educational, fun, and generates a lot of enthusiasm. We enjoy seeing the students’ innovative projects, and Arevon is happy to champion this important initiative for the second straight year.”
CSUDH Vice President of University Advancement Eva Sevcikova thanked Arevon and other partners for their continued support of the program. “We’ve heard the words ‘renewable energy’ a lot today, but what you do for our students is renew their energy,” she said. “You give them an environment where they can thrive, where they can reveal the excellence that lives inside them.”
From December through February, CSUDH will offer information sessions and workshops for those interested in sharing their innovative ideas. Applications are due in mid-February, with a Showcase and Grand Finale scheduled for March 12, 2026.
For more information about the Arevon Applied Innovation Renewable Energy Competition, visit https://incubator.csudh.edu/aire/.
