Students from Pennridge High School in Perkasie had the opportunity to take part in a “Shark Tank”-style STEM competition during the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday celebration. Two teams were able to fully develop their projects, winning praise from military leaders. 

The Philadelphia Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center held the challenge and asked students to “research a current naval problem and design a prototype that addresses the challenge.” 

Students could focus on areas like ship design and efficiency; sustainability and environmental impact; maintenance and repair; navigation, safety and security; and human factors. 

The first team, Two Gavins and a Finn, presented their solution for reducing drag on ship hulls. Gavin Chodoroff, Gavin Mill and Finn Bachman, seniors at Pennridge High School, looked to sharks’ skin for inspiration, modeling their project, the Shark Skin Denticles, after it.  

The second team, The Anti-Barnacle Boys, focused on the issue of barnacle buildup on ship hulls. Elijah Kurzman, Fenix Bock, Brandon Millili and Soulayman Abdi created an environmentally friendly system that uses a ship’s momentum to prevent barnacle growth from occurring.  

Major General Ryan S. Rideout, Commanding General of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, praised both teams for their creativity and ingenuity.  

“Our students are future leaders and innovators. When they are given access to opportunities that challenge them to think critically and approach problems through a technologically innovative lens, they rise to the occasion every time,” said Pennridge Superintendent Dr. Angelo Berrios. 

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