Our students showcased exceptional creativity and technical expertise at the statewide Innovation Manufacturing Challenge (IMC) State Finale held this past Thursday evening at Quinnipiac University. Competing against top students from across Connecticut, ESUMS secured two of the top three awards in this highly competitive event.
The Innovation Manufacturing Challenge highlights the intersection of engineering, design, and real-world problem-solving. Finalist teams are tasked with developing original products and presenting their solutions to a panel of judges comprised of university faculty and members of the regional business community. The competition provides a premier platform for students to receive professional feedback while demonstrating their innovation and technical skills.
Two ESUMS teams emerged as standout winners:
2nd Place & Presidential Merit Scholarship Winners: Team 5th Sense - Raisa Ahsan, Ethan Joseph, and Kallianny Gomes - developed an assistive vision device that provides active verbal guidance for individuals who are visually impaired. In addition to earning second place, the team was awarded a Presidential Merit Scholarship valued at $23,000 per year, totaling up to $92,000 over four years.
3rd Place: Team Tremora - Gabrielle Constance, Phoemela Joseph, Bethan Adeghe, and Sahithi Aliminate - designed a specialized sleeve engineered to help reduce tremors for individuals with motor challenges.
ESUMS was also proudly represented by Team SmartSipSchools - Leah Jones, Seth Jones, Durva Vipul Rana, and Zeina Al Haddad - who advanced to the state finale with their innovative water filtration system designed for school drinking fountains.
Earlier in the competition, our ESUMS students earned top placements at the regional level to quality for the state finale. Team 5th Sense placed first, SmartSipSchools earned second place, and Tremora secured third. During the event, students also had the opportunity to engage with university faculty and hear from industry leaders, including Paul Lavoie, former Chief Manufacturing Officer for the State of Connecticut.
In addition to their success at the IMC, our ESUMS students in the Engineering Design and Development (EDD) program have continued to gain recognition for their work. This year's team has received multiple awards and have been invited to present at the prestigious Yale Innovation Summit, where they will showcase their research through an e-poster presentation.
"I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the participants for their dedication and creativity, " said Dr. Panchal (H.S. Engineering and Design Teacher). Their commitment to innovation continues to position ESUMS as a leader in student achievement across the state and beyond.
We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to all our participating students and gratitude to their instructions, Ms. Kirkland and Dr, Panchal, for their continued leadership and support in fostering student innovation.
