ITEEA's Elementary and Secondary STEM Councils Proudly Unveil Grand Design Challenge Winners!

This year's Elementary Grand Design Challenge (GDC) had elementary students defending a treehouse from rising tides.

Congratulations go to Lydia, Avery, Paige, Brooke, and Jolene for their outstanding achievement as winners of the six annual Elementary STEM GDC. In small groups, the students engineered a solution by designing and building a model of a solution that will effectively keep the pathway leading from the shoreline to the treehouse accessible.

The winning team exhibited exceptional creativity in their use of materials, showcasing both ingenuity and a strong spirit of collaboration. Their design incorporates principles similar to those found in dams used to regulate water flow in channels, lakes, and rivers. By thoughtfully addressing the risk of significant water intrusion, including potential storm surges, they demonstrated a deep understanding of structural resilience and environmental protection.

A special thank you to Chase Rohan of the Boys & Girls Club of Madison, Madison County, VA for guiding and inspiring these young innovators. Elementary STEM Council President, Virginia R. Jones, PhD, DTE, shared with all the participants in this year’s GDC, "you are the future of STEM, and I am excited to see where your passion and talent will take you next. Keep pushing the boundaries of creativity and engineering—your work today is shaping a better tomorrow!"

Huge congratulations to Elijah, Emma, and Victoria from Milwee Middle School in Longwood, Florida! Under the guidance of their amazing instructor, Ms. Carol Unterreiner, this talented trio took home the Secondary STEM Council's Grand Design Challenge (GDC) Award with their innovative solution to a tricky problem.

This year’s challenge, Shoreline Stronghold: Defend Our Treehouse from Rising Tides, asked students to find a way to keep a pathway safe and accessible despite heavy rains and rising water levels. Elijah, Emma, and Victoria tackled the challenge head-on, designing a creative and effective model using the materials provided. Their hard work, teamwork, and problem-solving skills truly set them apart!

This competition, sponsored by the Secondary STEM Council (SSC), encourages students to use STEM skills to solve real-world problems. Their win is a testament to their dedication, ingenuity, and the incredible support from Ms. Unterreiner.

Way to go, Elijah, Emma, and Victoria! Your efforts are an inspiration to future young engineers. 🚀🎉

The winning elementary and secondary teams will receive a free one-year Group Membership for their school, an invitation to be part of ITEEA’s 2025 STEM Showcase, and one free hotel night at ITEEA's 2025 St. Louis Conference.

In 2008, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) identified 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century. The Grand Challenges were designed to cause students and educators to think about solutions to the big challenges affecting us all. ITEEA’s Elementary STEM and Secondary STEM Councils are again sponsoring the Global Design Challenge (GDC) to provide students with a chance to solve a real problem and show the world that everyone can help find solutions to these global challenges.

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