Students sink or SWIFT at Engineering Design Challenge
Posted: March 27, 2026
Middle and high school students representing each secondary school in Newport News participated in the school division’s Engineering Design Challenge March 26 at Crittenden Middle School.
Sink or SWIFT 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.
The Hampton Roads Sanitation District served as NNPS’ community partner for the event.
With groundwater being depleted faster than it can naturally recharge, causing land subsidence, HRSD developed the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT). Through advanced carbon based filtration and environmental monitoring, wastewater is purified to drinking water standards and used to recharge the Potomac Aquifer, according to HRSD.
Competing in groups, students took on the role of environmental engineers and water treatment specialists designing and building a filtration system that improves wastewater quality. The challenge engaged students in applying science, engineering, and computer science to develop solutions connected to real-world water quality and aquifer recharge through the SWIFT initiative.
Teams were judged on their ability to design an effective filtration system, make strategic budget decision, clearly document their process, develop an accurate digital model and produce the highest quality water.
An Achievable Dream High School Maroon Team was the overall winner.
Place winners in the high school competition were Menchville High School Purple Team in first place, An Achievable Dream High School Gold Team in second place and Denbigh High School Blue Team in third place. In the middle school competition, Passage Middle School 8th Grade Team earned first place, Hines Middle School 8th Grade Team second place and Booker T. Washington 7th Grade Team third place.
Northrup Grumman sponsored the awarding of VISA gift cards to each student on the overall winning team and on each division’s first place team.
The Engineering Design Challenge is part of the school division’s ongoing STEM education initiative emphasizing skills in science, technology, engineering and math.
This school year’s first Engineering Design Challenge was for fifth grade students and took place December 11. The final challenge for this school year will be for second and third graders on June 4 at Newsome Park Elementary School.
