The following is a submission from SMMUSD. Image: From left to right, Brandon Kirbyson, Landon Kummer and Tobin Palmer
Three Santa Monica High School (Samohi) students have been named finalists in the prestigious 2026 Conrad Challenge, an international innovation and entrepreneurship competition that draws more than 1,500 student teams from around the world.
Landon Kummer ’28, Brandon Kirbyson ’26, and Tobin Palmer ’26, competing as team Aphelion, were selected as one of five finalist teams in the Aerospace and Aviation category. Their project, developed through Santa Monica High School’s Project Lead the Way program and supported by the school’s Nanoengineering Club, focuses on improving satellite steering technology.
The team designed a two-degree-of-freedom steering system that reduces weight, cost and power consumption compared to current satellite positioning systems. Students developed a working prototype and conducted performance testing, demonstrating measurable improvements in mass and energy efficiency. In addition to the engineering design, the team produced a business plan and website to bring the innovation to market.
Judges for the Conrad Challenge praised the project’s depth and execution, noting the “authentic engineering validation” and describing it as “one of the strongest innovations” in the competition.
In April, the team will travel to the Space Center Houston to participate in the Conrad Challenge Innovation Summit, where they will present their work to industry professionals and compete for top honors.
“This recognition reflects the level of innovation and real-world problem-solving our students are capable of,” said Samohi principal Marae Cruce. “They are not only designing advanced technology, they are thinking like engineers, entrepreneurs and leaders.”
The Conrad Challenge is an annual global competition that challenges high school students to develop solutions to real-world problems across multiple STEM fields.
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