LAUREL, Md. — Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teams earned top honors at the 2025 Maryland Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Day, held May 3 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Competing against schools statewide, CCPS students from elementary, middle, and high schools secured seven placements across various challenges, showcasing their skills in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology. The teams qualified for the state competition after excelling at a regional showcase earlier this year at North Point High School.
The Maryland MESA program prepares students for academic and professional careers in STEM fields through hands-on challenges that foster innovation and problem-solving. Elementary students competed in community cleanup, planetary lander, wearable technology, and storybook theme park ride challenges. Middle and high school students tackled community cleanup, planetary lander, wearable technology, and the National Engineering Design Competition (NEDC) challenges, which emphasize advanced engineering solutions.
William A. Diggs Elementary School took first place in the community cleanup challenge, demonstrating creative approaches to environmental sustainability. Malcolm Elementary School earned third place in the planetary lander challenge and first place in the storybook theme park ride challenge, highlighting their ability to design functional and imaginative projects. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School claimed first place in the wearable technology challenge, showcasing innovative designs for practical applications. At the middle school level, John Hanson Middle School secured second place in the community cleanup challenge, while Piccowaxen Middle School earned second place in the NEDC. La Plata High School rounded out the achievements with a third-place finish in the NEDC, reflecting strong engineering expertise.
The MESA Day competition, hosted at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, brought together top-performing teams from across Maryland. CCPS teams prepared extensively, building on their regional successes at North Point High School to refine their projects for the state level. The challenges required students to apply STEM concepts to real-world problems, such as designing planetary landers for space exploration or creating wearable technologies with practical uses. The NEDC, a flagship event for middle and high school students, tasked teams with developing comprehensive engineering solutions under strict guidelines.
Charles County Public Schools has a strong history of participation in MESA, with teams consistently advancing to state and national competitions. The program aligns with CCPS’s commitment to fostering STEM education, equipping students with skills for future careers in high-demand fields. The 2025 Maryland MESA Day successes build on the district’s ongoing efforts to integrate hands-on learning into its curriculum, encouraging students to explore engineering and technology from an early age.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, a leader in research and development, provided an inspiring backdrop for the event, exposing students to cutting-edge STEM environments. CCPS educators and coaches played a key role in guiding teams, helping students develop teamwork, critical thinking, and technical skills. The achievements at MESA Day reflect the dedication of both students and staff to academic excellence.
These accomplishments highlight the strength of STEM education in Charles County, where schools like Diggs, Malcolm, Mudd, John Hanson, Piccowaxen, and La Plata continue to produce competitive teams. As MESA grows in Maryland, CCPS remains a leader in preparing students for STEM careers, with 2025 marking another year of notable achievements.
