The excitement was electric at the 2025 New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Workshop as students from across New Jersey took to the stage for the STEAM Tank Challenge Championships, showcasing creativity, innovation, courage, and problem-solving at its finest.
After months of design, testing, and teamwork, six remarkable teams representing elementary and middle schools from across the state were crowned champions in this year’s challenge. Their inventive solutions addressed real-world challenges—from environmental sustainability and accessibility to community health and safety.
Developed by the NJSBA, the STEAM Tank Challenge encourages students to think like entrepreneurs and engineers, guiding them through the process of developing new ideas, solving real world problems, and presenting them before a panel of professionals, entrepreneurs, and inventors.
This year’s championship reflected the power of student voice and ingenuity, as teams impressed judges with their ability to identify authentic problems and apply the principles of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to create innovative solutions. Each year, the program continues to grow, engaging thousands of students and educators statewide. Since its launch in 2015, more than 13,000 students and 2,500 teams have participated, transforming classrooms into innovation hubs where ideas come to life.
The NJSBA would like to thank our volunteer STEAM Tank judges, who come from various career backgrounds, such as business and industry, entrepreneurs, U.S. Army engineers, university staff and leaders, teachers, and education-focused nonprofit groups. Their efforts support students learning about STEM and STEAM, including career pathways that they can pursue as adults. They were amazed by all the students’ creativity, determination, courage, care for others, community, and, most of all, the environment.
As the 2025 season concludes, NJSBA celebrates not only the winning teams, but all the students and educators who embraced the challenge, embodying the spirit of discovery and leadership that defines the STEAM Tank program.
The Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey grants the $10,000 of prize money our elementary & middle school teams will receive.
Congratulations to this year’s champions—our future innovators and change-makers!
Elementary School Division:
- 1st – Pleasant Valley School – Harrison Township School District, Team Unsinkable Bracelet
- 2nd – Morris Plains School, Morris Plains School District, Team Hero Helmet
- 3rd – Robertsville Elementary School, Marlboro Township School District- Team Turtle
Middle School Division:
- 1st– Maplewood Middle School, South Orange-Maplewood School District, Team Creative Crew
- 2nd– Stafford Intermediate School, Stafford Township School District- Team Garden State Grocery Gadget
- 3rd– Garfield Middle School, Garfield School District- Team IN Sink
Please follow the Steam Tank page on Facebook for important announcements and events, or email Jennifer Siehl, Sr. Manager of STEAM Tank, if you would like to start a STEAM Tank program in your school or district. The application for the 2026 STEAM Tank Challenge is due on Dec. 19, 2025. To apply, please click here.
