The following is a submission from SMMUSD.
Students from Santa Monica High School’s(Sa mohi) Engineering Academy claimed first place at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Invention Challenge on Dec. 6, 2024.
Competing against 21 teams from Los Angeles and Orange counties, Samohi students excelled in this year’s “Candy Toss” challenge, which required teams to design a device capable of launching 50 chocolate-coated peanut candies into a target 16 feet away in under 60 seconds.
The winning team’s design, a modified crossbow, earned high praise for its precision and ingenuity, marking the first-ever victory for Samohi at the final JPL competition.
“Every year, this challenge provides an opportunity for students to take the lead, problem-solve, and push their ideas forward,” said Breanna Snyder, Samohi engineering teacher. “This year’s team not only met the objective but also showed tremendous passion and collaboration throughout the process. I’m so proud of what they accomplished.”
Samohi’s engineering academy is part of the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program, a rigorous Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway that equips students with real-world engineering and problem-solving skills. From designing circuits in digital electronics to exploring the physics of flight in aerospace engineering, the PLTW curriculum provides hands-on learning experiences to prepare students for future careers. Seniors in the academy compete in challenges like the JPL Invention Challenge during their engineering design and development course, which integrates advanced project-based learning and presentation skills.
“This competition is all about student ownership,” said Corey Eckhart, another Samohi engineering teacher. “The students lead every part of the process, from brainstorming to building. It’s incredible to see how they learn, grow, and innovate through trial and error. These are real-world engineering skills at work.”
Samohi team that won the NASA JPL Invention Challenge. (Courtesy Photo NASA/JPL-Caltech). The engineering academy’s success is supported by the state-of-the-art Exploration building, which houses Samohi’s CTE pathways and academies, including engineering. Funded by Measure SMS, approved by Santa Monica voters in 2018, the Exploration building reflects Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) dedication to creating future-ready learning environments.
Designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation, the facility provides students with
cutting-edge tools and resources to excel academically and prepare for meaningful careers.
“Career Technical Education pathways and academies give students the tools they need to succeed in a changing world,” said Dr. Devon Smith, SMMUSD Coordinator of Learning and Innovation. “Along with our passionate and skilled teachers, spaces like the Exploration building facilitate deeper engagement and real-world learning. Furthermore, these spaces help students bring their ideas to life, encouraging creativity and preparing them for higher education, deeper training, and future careers.”
This year’s Samohi team consisted of 26 students divided into three groups, all working under the guidance of Snyder and Eckhart. The months-long preparation involved designing, modeling, building, and testing their devices, as well as documenting successes and setbacks in detailed reports.
“This competition is a testament to what happens when students are given the freedom to create, experiment, and lead,” Snyder said. “We’re grateful for everyone who supports the engineering academy and helps make opportunities like this possible.”
The annual JPL Invention Challenge encourages students to explore engineering and creative problem-solving through hands-on projects. This marks Samohi’s sixth time competing in the challenge and its first overall win at the final competition, a milestone for the engineering academy and the district.
The SMMUSD Board of Education recognized the students at the Jan. 23, 2025, regular meeting.
