The future of innovation was on vibrant display as nearly 50 talented high school students from across New Jersey converged at the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Headquarters in Trenton on May 22 for the final round of the annual STEAM Tank Challenge.
This dynamic event, a longstanding partnership between the NJSBA and the U.S. Army, showcased student-driven solutions leveraging science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics to address pressing real-world challenges centered on sustainability, health, equity, and safety.
The STEAM Tank Challenge goes beyond traditional classroom learning, empowering students to develop crucial 21st-century skills through hands-on application of STEAM principles. The energy was palpable as the day commenced with enthusiastic welcoming remarks from Jennifer Siehl and Dr. Timothy Purnell of the NJSBA, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Kevin McCurley, and David Hespe representing the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ).
The heart of the challenge was in the team presentations. Each team presented their innovative project to a discerning panel of judges. This panel drew expertise from public and private sectors, including Rutgers University, and companies such as JCP&L.
The format involved a ten-minute explanation by the innovators of their concept, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session designed to probe the depth of their understanding and the feasibility of their solutions.
The sheer variety and ingenuity of the projects underscored the students’ profound commitment to identifying and addressing needs within their communities, as evaluated by this diverse group of judges.
Demonstrating its commitment to the next generation of problem solvers, ELFNJ generously provided a total of $8,500 in prize money, recognizing the hard work and creativity of the participating schools and their remarkable teams. Prizes were awarded to the following teams:
- Bacilli Baddies (Passaic County Technical Institute) – $2,500
- Vita Flow (Ridgewood High School) – $1,500
- Swarm Sentry (Edison High School) – $1,000
- Shock Sleeve (Ridgewood High School) – $500
- STEM For Change (Mainland Regional High School) – $500
- Shore Regional STEAM Team – $500
- Plastic Prophets (Passaic County Technical Institute) – $500
- Bicycle Chain Guard (Manasquan High School) – $500
- Watering Can (Hawthorne High School) – $500
- Team MVP’s Project Greenhouse (Passaic Academy for Science & Engineering) – $500
“These are the types of events ELFNJ loves to sponsor. It brings together everything good about education. It’s an opportunity for students to show us what cutting edge looks like,” stated David Hespe, executive director of Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey.
“You represent the next generation of problem solvers, innovators, and leaders. Whether you’re designing a new app, loading a new prototype, crafting a system that can change the world, I would like you to know that your work matters. Keep asking questions, taking risks and building,” said U.S. Army Warrant Officer Kevin McCurley.
The NJSBA proudly commends all the participants for their exceptional work in the 2025 STEAM Tank Challenge and acknowledges the vital role of the teachers in fostering this impressive talent. This event stands as a powerful testament to the bright and promising future driven by the innovation blossoming within the talented students in New Jersey’s public schools.
