Event Background: Members of the media are invited to cover the STEAM Tank Challenge Finals, where nearly 50 students from ten public high schools will showcase their innovative projects with solutions to address real world problems. Created by the New Jersey School Boards Association, and co-sponsored by the US Army, the STEAM Tank Challenge promotes education in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) for New Jersey’s public-school students. This competition empowers students to reimagine and redesign New Jersey with a focus on sustainability, health, equity, and safety for all residents. STEAM Tank also focuses on collaboration, critical thinking, and promotes real world skills. Student teams will present their plans in a ten-minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session with judges from the public and private sectors as well as higher education. Prize money for the competition is generously provided by the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey.
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Time: 9:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: NJSBA Headquarters, 413 West State Street, Trenton, NJ
Spokespersons:
- Dr. Timothy Purnell, Executive Director/CEO, New Jersey School Boards Association
- Jennifer Siehl – Senior Manager, STEAM Tank Challenge, New Jersey School Boards Association
- WO1 Kevin McCurley, US Army
- David C. Hespe, Executive Director, Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey
Event Details:
8:45 a.m. – Registration & Breakfast
9:15 a.m. – Welcome remarks
- Jennifer Siehl, NJSBA
- Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA
- WO1 Kevin McCurley, US Army9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Student presentations
- 9:30 a.m.- Team Swarm Sentry – Edison High School (Conf Rm 1, 1st Fl)
- 9:30 a.m. – Team Shore Regional Steam Team (Conf Rm 2, 2nd Fl)
- 9:30 a.m. – Bicycle Chain Bodyguard – Manasquan High School (Conf Rm 3, 3rd Fl)
- 10:00 a.m. – Team Watering Can – Hawthorne High School (Conf Rm 1, 1st Fl)
- 10:00 a.m. – Team Shock Sleeve – Ridgewood High School (Conf Rm 2, 2nd Fl)
- 10:00 a.m. – Bacilli Baddies – Passaic County Technical Institute (Conf Rm 3, 3rd Fl)
- 10:30 a.m. – Team MVP’s – Passaic Academy for Science & Engineering (Conf Rm 1, 1st Fl)
- 10:30 a.m. – Team Vita Flow – Ridgewood High School (Conf Rm 2, 2nd Fl)
- 10:30 a.m. – Plastic Prophets – Passaic County Technical Institute (Conf Rm 3, 3rd Fl)
- 11:00 a.m. – STEM for Change – Mainland Regional High School (Conf Rm 1, 1st Fl)
11:30 a.m. – Lunch
12:15 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
12:30 p.m. Dessert reception, photo opportunities
1:00 p.m. – Event concludes
Photography/Videography – Photos and video may be taken during the event.
Day-of-Event Contact: Lori Perlow, 856-701-3170 or LPerlow@njsba.org