The inaugural Aggies Invent Junior (AIJ) program kicked off in Matagorda County with resounding success on Friday, January 10, 2025. Hosted by Bay City High School and sponsored by Texas Sea Grant, this Science-Technology-Engineering-Math (STEM) initiative brought together 25 enthusiastic students from Bay City, Palacios, Van Vleck, and the local homeschool community. Organized by the Texas A&M Engineering Spark! team, AIJ aimed to inspire the next generation of innovators through hands-on learning and mentorship.
The program featured nine dedicated mentors, including engineers and marine professionals from Texas Sea Grant, Celanese, HIF, and LyondellBasell, who volunteered one and a half days to guide students through the engineering design process. Their expertise and encouragement helped students tackle complex challenges with creativity and confidence.
Day one began on a high note, with complimentary iced coffee drinks generously provided by 7Brew of Bay City. As the day unfolded, students dove into brainstorming sessions and early project development, fueled by a delicious Chick-fil-A dinner. The energy and enthusiasm in the room set the stage for a productive and inspiring weekend.
Students were presented with five different local environmental challenges to tackle, each designed to encourage creativity and problem-solving. With only four hours available, the students were quickly divided into groups based on their individual interests. The students immediately began brainstorming ideas and making plans, diving into the tasks with enthusiasm and determination. The energy was high as they collaborated, utilizing the limited time effectively to develop creative and well-thought-out strategies. The teamwork and focus were impressive as they worked together towards a shared goal, showcasing their ability to adapt and think critically under time constraints.
The second day of the Aggies Invent Junior program began with a hearty breakfast featuring pigs in a blanket and an assortment of donuts from Mullen’s. Fueled and focused, the students eagerly immersed themselves in their projects, working collaboratively to bring their innovative ideas to life.
The workspace buzzed with excitement as teams designed, built, and fine-tuned prototypes. With the guidance of their mentors, participants tackled real-world problems with functional and creative solutions. After completing their prototypes, students shifted gears to focus on presentations, practicing their pitches to refine communication skills and gain confidence ahead of the final judging.
Lunch provided a delicious break, featuring Little Caesars pizza, fresh salads, and vibrant fruit trays from H-E-B. Snacks and treats throughout the day kept everyone energized as they prepared for the climactic moment—presenting their projects to a panel of judges.
The final presentations showcased an impressive array of innovative solutions, making the judges’ task of selecting winners especially challenging. The results are as follows:
- First Place: The Non-Plastics- This team amazed the judges with their pink alligator-shaped marine debris robot vacuum, designed to collect microplastics from the surface of rivers and lakes. By intercepting plastics before they reach bays and oceans, their device provides a creative and impactful solution to a pressing environmental issue.
- Second Place: GROW- The team’s visionary concept for an aqua park emphasized green infrastructure by capturing excess runoff water, fostering native plant and animal habitats, and creating a recreational space for the community. Their design blended environmental stewardship with public engagement.
- Third Place: WAD- Tackling storm preparedness, this team developed an automated storm shutter system that activates based on wind speed. The shutters provide quick and efficient home protection, complete with alerts to notify homeowners of activation, malfunctions, and critical updates.
A special thank you to the judges—Loy Sneary, Mario Marquez, Bill Balboa, Alyssa Dibbern, Shelby Zavala, and Tressa Ledford—for dedicating their time and expertise to evaluate the students’ projects. Their thoughtful feedback and encouragement meant so much to the participants.
A heartfelt thank you to the generous sponsors—Tenaris, Challenger Services, LyondellBasell, and Texas Sea Grant—and to 7Brew for their drink donations. We also extend our gratitude to Mullen’s Donuts, H-E-B, Chick-fil-A, and Little Caesars for their food discounts and special offers. These contributions not only nourished the bodies but also fueled the minds of future innovators. This support was essential to the success of this event and is truly appreciated!
Finally, a huge round of applause for the Texas A&M Spark! team for delivering a meaningful program that empowers the next generation of problem-solvers. Their dedication to fostering creativity and critical thinking in youth is truly inspiring. Congratulations to all participants for their hard work, ingenuity, and dedication. The skills and experience gained through Aggies Invent Junior will undoubtedly pave the way for a brighter future!