After identifying real problems impacting the lives of people in their community, students in Designing Real World Impacts develop connections with professionals across the city and the country. Students progress through each stage of the design thinking process to develop a solution that has meaningful and lasting impact. The innovative structure of this course allows students to earn English and Social Entrepreneurship (Social Studies) credits. At the conclusion of the semester, student teams pitch their solutions to an audience of stakeholders, including Sion leadership and faculty, board members, community partners, alumni, students and parents. 

Students in this program meet off-site in a professional working environment for three hours of the school day and travel to various sites across the metro area to meet with entrepreneurs and professionals who seek to inspire change and have a positive impact through their work.

Participants in Designing Real World Impacts build their leadership and networking skills by scheduling and hosting meetings with these partners (virtually and in person) to gain a deeper understanding of the problem and to examine opportunities and gaps in our current systems. Student teams identify which local professionals and organizations are already working in response to the problems they have identified and what resources and services currently exist.