Third Annual Innovation Challenge Produces High School STEM Stars

Brainstorming, creativity and teamwork are some of the tactics that led a group of King George County high-schoolers to the top. “We overcame it together,” student Ayla Zook said of the last-minute coding issues that threatened to deter the team’s win at this month’s High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren.

More than 100 students from public and private schools, from Stafford to the Northern Neck, turned out for the third annual robotics-style competition at the University of Mary Washington’s Dahlgren Campus on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2. The winning team from King George walked away with a cash prize of $3,500, a giant trophy and bragging rights … at least until next year’s event.

Westmoreland High School took second place, winning $2,500, and Fredericksburg Christian School came in third, claiming $1,500. The teams battled it out in lightning rounds, completing an “ENRG” mission that required them to engage by assembling robots to navigate challenging terrain on a quest to recover critical hardware while gathering intel and maintaining mission awareness. In addition to cash, winners took home robotics kits for their schools.

UMW Provost Timothy O’Donnell challenged the groups to encourage each other, step back from the stress and have fun, while also keeping the goal of the competition in mind: to encourage and foster STEM learning in Virginia’s fastest growing region.

King George High School took first place in the competition, earning $3,500 for STEM learning at their school. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Westmoreland High School took second place, earning $2,500. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Fredericksburg Christian School took third place, earning $1,500. Photo by Dave Ellis.

“This is a really critical region in our nation and in our state. The work you’re doing today contributes to that,” O’Donnell said of the challenge, hosted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council, MITRE Corporation, King George Economic Development Authority and UMW. “You’re training the mind, you’re harnessing talents, you’re bringing together your skills to solve really complex problems. And that’s what this country needs going forward.”

NSWCDD hosted the first challenge in 2022, which paved the way for collegiate and industry competitions held last year. The events are part of the Potomac Tech Bridge, an outreach initiative for building a community of innovation between NSWCDD and its partners.

Along with this year’s winners and the 2023 defending champs from Rappahannock High School, 22 teams came from Caroline, Colonial Beach, Courtland, James Monroe, Massaponax, Mountain View, North Stafford, Northumberland and Spotsylvania high schools. Groups from Bridging Communities STEM Academy, Fredericksburg Academy and Caroline Middle School – which took top place in February’s inaugural Middle School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren – also participated.

A team from Bridging Communities STEM Academy in New Kent, Virginia, collaborates on the best way to complete the mission. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Caroline Middle School took top place in February’s inaugural Middle School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren, which afforded them a chance to compete at the high-school level. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Team members from Courtland High School divide and conquer in their quest to complete the assigned mission during the third annual Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren. Photo by Dave Ellis.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division’s Michael Darnell confers with members of the James Monroe High School team. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Members of the Rappahannock High School team work to defend the championship title they earned in last year’s High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren. In the end, they were edged out by a King George High School team. Photo by Dave Ellis.

The ability to solve problems, experience failures and bounce back with solutions is key to the competitions, said UMW College of Business Lecturer and Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council Chairman John Burrow.

“STEM events are critical to our success and students are our lifeline,” NSWCDD Acting Technical Director Shellie Clift said before the competition. “They’re going to be what allows us to extend our ability to deter and defeat our adversaries far into the future. I hope [this experience] inspires them to become one of us one day.”