Cartwheel Announces Winners of National Student Challenge Celebrating Life Beyond Screens

More than 140 students from 30 school districts across 10 states participated in the My Amazing Summer Challenge, inspired by The Amazing Generation, exploring what happens when young people spend more time offline.

• Students shared creative reflections through essays, photo journals, artwork, poetry, and even a student-led protest against addictive apps.
• Jersey City Public Schools (NJ) named Grand Prize winner, with four Standout Districts and eight individual students also recognized nationally.
• The challenge is part of Cartwheel’s broader work to support youth digital well-being, including its newly launched Screens & Social Media Care Program.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cartwheel, the nation’s largest school-centered telehealth provider, today announced the winners of the My Amazing Summer Challenge, a national initiative inspired by The Amazing Generation, the book by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, written for children ages 9–12. The challenge encouraged students to read the book, try new experiences offline, and share what they discovered. Cartwheel distributed more than 600 books to participating schools.

This summer, more than 140 students from 30 school districts across 10 states submitted reflections on their experiences. Their submissions ranged from handwritten essays and photo journals to original artwork, poetry, and even a student-led protest against addictive apps.

“One of the things I loved most about this challenge was how much students had to say about their own experiences with technology,” said Juliana Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Cartwheel. “We gave them an opportunity to try something different, and they shared thoughtful, funny, and sometimes surprisingly candid reflections about what they discovered.”

Students wrote about putting their phones in a drawer and rediscovering what it feels like to be bored — and what can happen when boredom turns into something creative. They cooked with their families, spent uninterrupted time with friends, explored outside, traveled to new places, tried new hobbies, and made things with their hands. Others wrote honestly about how hard it can be to stop scrolling, even when they want to. As one fourth grader put it, she was proud to “stop letting technology use me.”

Meet the Winners
Grand Prize: Jersey City Public Schools (NJ) received a $1,000 Bookshop.org gift card for its school library. More than 50 fourth- and fifth-grade students submitted reflections, many describing the value of being present with the people they care about.

“We are deeply grateful to Cartwheel for their generous support and recognition of Jersey City Public Schools,” said Dr. Norma Fernandez, Superintendent of Jersey City Public Schools. “Our district is committed to promoting healthy habits and well-being. Seeing our students embrace offline learning, reading, and meaningful real-life connections is truly inspiring. Congratulations to the students of PS #16 and our dedicated educators for leading by example in limiting technology use and showing that rich learning happens everywhere.”

The winning effort took root at Cornelia F. Bradford Elementary School, P.S. 16, where the school’s principal read The Anxious Generation and chose The Amazing Generation as the summer read for rising fifth graders. Sylvia Hennessey, the school’s Library Media Specialist, described how the school brought that vision to life.

“This entire effort was a true labor of love at PS 16,” said Hennessey. “Our principal and I partnered to bring her vision to life, securing funding through our parent organization so every single student received their own copy of the book, building the summer packets, signing up for the Cartwheel challenge, and hosting a high-energy kickoff rally to get our kids thrilled about living screen-free lives.”

Four Standout Districts each received a $250 Bookshop.org gift card for their school libraries: Huntington County Community School Corporation (IN), Shenango Area School District (PA), Downingtown Area School District (PA), and Warwick Public Schools (RI).

“We believe that growing up means more than what happens in a classroom. It means having real experiences, building relationships, being active, developing independence, and learning to navigate a world filled with technology,” said Superintendent Dr. Joseph McCormick, Shenango Area School District. “These students demonstrated that they understand the value of putting the phone down, looking up, and engaging with the people and world around them.”

Eight Featured Rebels — individual students whose submissions demonstrated exceptional thoughtfulness and creativity — were also recognized nationally.

Seven Honorable Mention Districts also received recognition: Bristol-Warren Regional School District (RI), Cambridge Public Schools (MA), Lebanon School District (NH), Legacy Christian School (IN), Medway Public Schools (MA), Memphis-Shelby County Schools (TN), and Milford Public School District (MA).

Explore the national showcase of student reflections and winners.

Helping Young People Build Healthier Relationships with Technology
The students’ reflections highlight the value of giving young people opportunities to step away from screens, explore new interests, and think about their relationship with technology. They also reflect a broader challenge facing schools and families: helping children develop healthy digital habits in a world where technology is part of everyday life.

The My Amazing Summer Challenge is one part of Cartwheel’s broader work to support youth digital well-being through education, school partnerships, and clinical care. Working with nearly 400 school districts across 16 states, Cartwheel regularly hears from school teams about how screens and social media can affect students’ sleep, friendships, emotional well-being, and experiences at school.

In September 2026, Cartwheel launched its Screens & Social Media Care Program, providing targeted assessment, evidence-based clinical care, and caregiver support for students and families experiencing challenges related to technology use. The program joins Cartwheel’s growing portfolio of Care Programs, including School Avoidance and Big Behaviors, Big Feelings.

Cartwheel’s work comes amid growing national attention to youth mental health and online safety, including a multistate settlement with Meta worth up to $17.1 billion, as states consider how settlement proceeds may support related initiatives. Cartwheel has been engaging schools and families in conversations about digital well-being for years, including a 2025 webinar on phone-free schools featuring The Anxious Generation author Jonathan Haidt, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner.

Through initiatives like the My Amazing Summer Challenge and its specialized clinical programs, Cartwheel aims to help students and families build healthier relationships with technology — both by encouraging positive habits early and by providing support when challenges arise.

About Cartwheel
Cartwheel is the nation’s largest telehealth mental health provider for youth and families. Cartwheel partners with nearly 400 K-12 school districts across 16 states to provide rapid access to high quality care. Founded by educators and clinicians, Cartwheel provides evidence-based therapy, parent guidance, and psychiatry, and accepts all major insurance including Medicaid. Learn more at www.cartwheel.org.

Media Contact: Emily Paisner, Head of Marketing, Cartwheel
888-500-2067 | [email protected]

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SOURCE Cartwheel

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