Students use coding skills to solve Engineering Design Challenge
Posted: December 12, 2025
Fifth graders representing each elementary school in Newport News participated in the school division's first Engineering Design Challenge of this school year on December 11 at Newsome Park Elementary School.
Coding Our Freedom was the theme of the problem they were presented to solve for the competition. For the challenge, students do not know what the assignment is until it is given to them with the instructions and materials needed at the start of the time period allowed to complete it.
Competing in groups, students strategized to advance through a series of four challenges. Students took on the role of senior software engineer assigned to build a prototype of an unmanned submarine using LEGOs, cyber warfare engineer assigned to use a reference chart to solve a seven letter secret password that matched a provided binary code, unmanned underwater vehicle autonomy engineer using block-based coding to move a drone ship through a maze, and naval computer programmer analyst creating block code to move a drone using arrow keys to reach a trapped Navy SEAL.
The challenge encouraged creative thinking, collaboration and perseverance. Students applied their understanding of computer science, engineering and teamwork skills to design, build and code their solutions.
Kiln Creek Elementary School won first place, with Sanford coming in second place and General Stanford taking third place.
The United States Navy served as NNPS community partner for the event. The Engineering Design Challenge is part of the school division's ongoing STEM education initiative emphasizing skills in science, technology, engineering and math.
"These students, and others throughout Newport News, will be uniquely positioned to take full advantage of the high concentration of STEM-related learning opportunities and careers in the region," said Executive Director of Secondary Teaching & Learning and K-12 Programs Darrell Pankratz. "Through collaborations with today's event partner-the United States Navy-we are creating more opportunities for our students. We need, and thank you, for your expertise and ongoing support.
"I also want to add that in the month of December, Newport News Public Schools emphasizes computer science education. And students will need to apply their computer science skills in order to excel in todayâs challenge."
This was the first of three Engineering Design Challenge events planned for this school year. Students in middle and high schools will participate in the next Engineering Design Challenge on March 26 at Crittenden Middle School. The final challenge for this school year will be for second and third graders on June 4 at Newsome Park Elementary School.
