SAN RAMON, CA — Three San Ramon students won $5000 each in a competition to imagine original events that could bring people together, showcase San Ramon, and contribute to the city's community. Some ideas could potentially be implemented in the future.
The Event Innovator Competition invited students in grades 9-11 who live in San Ramon or attend high school there to develop and submit original concepts. Following review by the Discover San Ramon board and judging panel, three winners were selected:
The Sky-Track Grand Prix would be a professional-grade, sanctioned drone racing and autonomous vehicle obstacle course championship that would take place at City Center Bishop Ranch. It would feature an aerial course for human-piloted racing drones, and a ground obstacle course for autonomous vehicles.
"I was inspired by the question of what kind of event could only exist right here in San Ramon. It was an amazing experience to design a concept that turns our forward-thinking architecture into a national destination for the future of sports," Korambeth said in a statement.
The San Ramon RoboFest would be a three-day robotics and innovation festival taking place at City Center Bishop Ranch. It would feature STEM experiences, live competitions, and talks.
"The Event Innovator Competition was a great experience because it allowed me to combine my interests in STEM and entrepreneurship, along with my passion for creating something meaningful for the community. I really enjoyed developing my idea, learning through the process, and thinking about how innovation and creativity can turn an idea into reality," Ranjan said about her idea.
The Cherry Blossom Festival would provide visitors a safe place for people to walk, take photos, and enjoy seasonal blooms along the cherry blossom pathway in Central Park or along the Iron Horse Trail. "I'm really grateful for the opportunity to address a problem I noticed in our community: people parking dangerously along Bollinger Canyon Road to take photos of the tree blossoms. This competition taught me to think creatively and find solutions that can make our community safer," Fisher said.
Organizers said the second annual Event Innovator competition received three times as many entries this year as it did last year. In the fall of 2025, three teams won $5000 for suggesting ideas like a lantern and drones festival, a Summer Olympiad, and a San Ramon Scavenger Stroll.
"San Ramon's young people have tremendous ideas about what makes a community exciting, welcoming and connected," San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong said in a statement. "The Event Innovator Competition gives them a meaningful opportunity to share those ideas and have their voices heard. Neil, Aditi and Chloe each brought creativity and imagination to their proposals, and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments."
Visit discoversanramonca.com for more information.
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