Penn qualifies seven teams for the Innovation Challenge finals

Penn High School qualified seven teams for the finals of the LimeBike of South Bend Innovation Challenge. A total of 10 teams from Penn, Mishawaka and South Bend Riley qualified for the finals.

Finalists will design and build prototypes of their pitches to LimeBike. At stake is a paid summer internship hosted by The Sibley Center to expand on and implement designs from the competition. A for-profit company that receives no tax dollars, LimeBike is a bike-sharing program that seeks to promote a cleaner environment through riding bicycles.

In the Innovation Challenge, students had to create a solution or discover an innovation that will help LimeBike improve its service. The students presented their innovation pitches to panels of local experts and teachers.

“Activities like the Innovation Challenge are wonderful learning experiences and teaching tools,” STEM Academy Leader Josiah Parker said. “It allows students to apply the skills they have learned, make deeper connections with their community, and get a deeper understanding of the career field.”

Parker said that there is a significant take-away for students.

“These experiences teach more than just the content of a class,” Parker explained. “Students learn how to apply knowledge, how to work with teams, how to interact with mentors and professionals, how to problem solve, and so many other skills that you just can not learn from traditional learning. It also shows students some of the opportunities that are available in this region. We want our bright young students to stay or come back to live “

here. 

The LimeBike Challenge is one of the relevant learning opportunities that distinguishes Penn’s STEM Academy, which is one of 33 schools in Indiana that is STEM-certified by the State of Indiana.

“Students are so much better prepared for their next steps by completing activities like this,” Parker said of the Innovation Challenge. “When they start college classes, join the military, or start working, they have great experiences from high school to rely on.

“It also show them what it would be like to work in a career related to engineering, technology, business, etc. It might affirm their ideas for a career or show them that maybe they should change avenues. One thing that makes me proud is the number of opportunities like this that are available to our students. The STEM Academy is not the only place where you can find these great activities at Penn."

Penn’s Innovation Challenge Finalists:

The LimeStand:

Peter Yang

Keshaun Lee

Joseph Shockey

Brandon Scarberry

Work Chair:

Michael Feeley

Caroline Tiebout

Collin Mott

Adjustable Bike Stand:

Austin Waech

Michael Wujcik

Zachary Craft

Moon Joy

V- Bike Stand:

Dacota Schrader

Jake Creviston

Julian Bark

Work Layout:

Anthony Vaccaro

Kayra Nugroho

Ryan Hiner

Hunter Lederer

Cameron Besinger

Basket Adapter:

Briar Russell

Alexander Lizarazo

Nicholas Wittendorf

Wyatt Devore

Molded Tool Storage:

Prestin Parker

Cody Balbo

Dominic Lovisa

Ethan Beeman

Wes Lang

Honorable Mention:

QR Tracking:

Anthony Guennel

April Hunt

Cameron Trueblood

Ciera Chavez

Tommy Rzeszutko

Scissor Lift Stand:

Nevaeh Marshell

Olivia Zenia

Sophie Malik

Sydney Sanders

80/20 Frame:

Aidan Kaczanowski

Braden Huffman

Christopher Aviles

Joseph Irvin

Nicholas Momotiuk

Hoop Bike Holder:

Nathan Doshi

Ian Baker

Alex Collins