CCPS MESA Teams Advance to State Showcase

Charles County Public Schools students earned top honors at the regional Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement showcase, with multiple teams advancing to the statewide competition.

CCPS teams competed in March 2026 at the regional MESA Showcase held at North Point High School in Charles County. The event featured challenges designed to build skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while preparing participants for future academic and professional careers.

First-place teams from the regional event advance to the Maryland MESA Day Showcase and Awards Ceremony scheduled for May 2, 2026, at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus in Laurel. Teams from Berry Elementary, William A. Diggs Elementary and Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary schools, Mattawoman Middle and Piccowaxen Middle schools, and La Plata High School secured advancement.

Elementary-level challenges included the Storybook Theme Park Ride Challenge, Community Clean-Up Challenge, Planetary Lander: An Expanding Structure Challenge and Wearable Technology Challenge. Middle and high school students competed in the National Engineering Design Competition Challenge along with the Community Clean-Up, Planetary Lander and Wearable Technology challenges.

The MESA program, active in Charles County and across Maryland, encourages hands-on problem-solving and teamwork among students in grades 3 through 12. First-, second- and third-place teams in each challenge received awards at the regional showcase.

Specific first-place results at the elementary level included Berry Elementary School winning the Planetary Lander Challenge. Team members were Jade Belle, Malcolm Hill Jr., Eliana Pillera and Jordan Weeks, with school coordinators Marietta Wachowski, Amber Wachowski and Shauntia Pickeral.

Additional placements at the elementary level featured North Point Elementary teams earning second place in certain challenges, though exact details for all Charles County schools remain tied to the overall advancement list released by the district.

Charles County Public Schools officials highlighted the students’ achievements as evidence of strong STEM preparation within the district. The advancing teams represent a cross-section of elementary, middle and high school levels, reflecting broad participation across grade bands.

The state competition at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory provides an opportunity for regional winners to compete against top teams from other Maryland districts. Top state performers may qualify for national-level events through the MESA USA network.

MESA activities emphasize real-world applications, such as designing community clean-up solutions, building expanding structures for planetary landers, creating wearable technology and developing theme park rides based on storybook themes. These projects foster creativity, engineering principles and collaboration.

The regional showcase at North Point High School serves as a key stepping stone for Southern Maryland students interested in STEM fields. Participation helps build resumes for college applications and future careers in engineering, science and technology sectors that continue to grow in the region and nationally.

Charles County has a history of MESA success, with past teams earning state titles and advancing to higher competitions. This year’s regional results continue that tradition of excellence in hands-on STEM education.

Students and coordinators invested significant time outside regular school hours to prepare projects, test designs and refine solutions based on competition criteria. The program partners with educators, industry professionals and higher education institutions to provide mentorship and resources.

The May 2, 2026, state event will feature awards ceremonies and opportunities for students to interact with STEM experts from the Applied Physics Laboratory and other organizations. Families and community members are encouraged to support the advancing teams as they represent Charles County at the statewide level.

This year’s MESA accomplishments align with broader district goals of preparing students for college and career readiness through enriched learning experiences. Participation in MESA complements classroom instruction by offering practical, project-based challenges that develop critical thinking and innovation skills.

Southern Maryland residents can follow the teams’ progress as they head to Laurel for the state showcase. Results from the May competition will determine which groups advance further in the national MESA framework.

The Charles County Board of Education and school administrators have consistently supported STEM initiatives, including MESA, as part of efforts to strengthen academic programs across the district’s elementary, middle and high schools.

Advancing teams will continue preparation in the coming weeks, refining their projects and strategies under the guidance of dedicated teacher-coordinators. The district expressed pride in all participants, noting that the experience itself builds valuable skills regardless of final placement.

MESA’s structure ensures that students from diverse backgrounds gain equal access to high-quality STEM enrichment. In Charles County, the program reaches multiple schools and grade levels, creating pathways for continued involvement as students progress through the system.

The regional showcase concluded with recognition for top performers, setting the stage for the competitive state event. Charles County’s strong showing underscores the quality of instruction and student dedication within CCPS.

As the calendar moves toward May 2, focus shifts to the state competition where local teams will demonstrate their engineering solutions, scientific understanding and design capabilities on a larger stage.

This development adds to the positive educational news emerging from Southern Maryland public schools, where targeted programs like MESA help cultivate the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.

The following teams placed at the elementary-school level:

Planetary Lander Challenge

• Berry, first place. Team members are Jade Belle, Malcolm Hill Jr., Eliana Pillera and Jordan Weeks. School coordinatorsare Marietta Wachowski, Amber Wachowski and Shauntia Pickeral.
• Dr. Mudd, second place. Team members are Zoe Bennett, Adriana Galdamez Martinez, Clara Stanley and Zendaya Savoy. School coordinators are Brandy Alexander and Maribel Reyes.
• Indian Head Elementary School. Team members are Jasper Lockington and Ryan Spieldenner. School coordinators are Caitlyn Grimes and Megan Swinea.

Community Clean Up Challenge

• Diggs, first place. Team members are Bryce Muschette, Bryce Thompson and Bryson Wooster. School coordinators are Traci Davis and Michael Johnson.
• Berry, second place. Team members are Ian Beck, Kaiori Belle, Dylan Huynh and Ariana Magar. School coordinators are Marietta Wachowski, Amber Wachowski and Shauntia Pickeral.
• Dr. Mudd, third place. Team members are Miguel Alvarez Flores, Johanna Archila Ochoa, Za’Mir Bannister and Zi’Eir Bannister. School coordinators are Brandy Alexander and Maribel Reyes.

Storybook Theme Park Challenge

• Diggs, first place. Team members are John Aaron Bassig, Alianna Grace Moten, Aamir Logan and Danny McFadden Jr. School coordinators are Traci Davis and Michael Johnson.
• Berry, second place. Team members are Braelon Bowen, Lauren Elliott, Aaron Parkar and Sadia Qureshi. School coordinators are Marietta Wachowski, Amber Wachowski and Shauntia Pickeral.
• Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, third place. Team members are Damiel Golden, Owen Hackett, Samantha Johnson and Scarlett Roberson. School coordinators are Clarissa Roper and Mollie Wathen.

Wearable Technology Challenge

• Dr. Mudd, first place. Team members are Joshua Ferguson, Noel McPherson, Amanda Sanchez and Elizabeth Rodriguez Zelaya. School coordinators are Brandy Alexander and Maribel Reyes.
• Mitchell, second place. Team members are Cassidy Legge, Camden Gibney, Matthew Leech II and Iris Holbert. School coordinators are Clarissa Roper and Mollie Wathen.
• Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, third place. Team members are Natalie Myers, Neneh Malima, Matthew Keener and Jacob Duley. School coordinators are Tricia Mehall and Tarra Heasley.

The following teams placed at the middle-school level:

Planetary Lander Challenge

• Mattawoman, first place. Team members are Eliana Joy Natividad, Isabella Tewodros, Kylie Kim and Ruth Nyamaah. School coordinators are Caner Dewees and Elaine Voltz.
• Piccowaxen, second place. Team members are Safia Boubertakh, Peyton Bedard, Elijah Prichard and Mahi Sharma. School coordinators are Sherrie Gibney and Melissa Scott.
• Milton M. Somers Middle School, third place. Team members are Colin Liston and Mark Jackson III. School coordinators are Michelle Darty-Cureton and Traci Parham.

Community Clean Up Challenge

• Piccowaxen, first place. Team members are Elsie Bowling, Robbie Linn and Luke Riffle. School coordinators are Sherrie Gibney and Melissa Scott.

National Engineering Design Challenge

• Piccowaxen, first place. Team members are Elise Jennings, Lillian Merkle, Teagan Rooney and Nicholas Williams. School coordinators are Sherrie Gibney and Melissa Scott.
• Mattawoman, second place. Team members are Jayven Caulder, Anna Huynh, Aidan Parkar and Rayjon Stanford.
• Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, third place. Team members are Darasimi Odubena, Mouhamed Kebe and Izolda Deugoue Pouani. School coordinators are Ahriel Walker and Deborah Spencer.

Wearable Technology Challenge

• Piccowaxen, first place. Team members are Bryson Sherman, Charlotte Fenton, Brendan Tillotson and Ayden Zeolla. School coordinators are Sherrie Gibney and Melissa Scott.
• Matthew Henson Middle School, second place. Team members are Kailani Allen, Caidence Pickeral, Kylee Kruszewski and Logan Williams. School coordinators are David O’Neill and Mike Forrest.
• John Hanson Middle School, third place. Team members are Donald Parks, Finn Butson, Ambica Mahato and Eldana Asrat. School coordinators are Kenneth Tebit and Marquitta Thompson.
• The following teams placed at the high-school level:

Planetary Lander Challenge

• La Plata, first place. Team members are Corry Dang, Mohsen Husain and Gaven Wu. School coordinators are Rachel Clark and Marisa Capalbo.
• North Point, second place. Team members are Greyson Barnidge, Eliam Quirante, Ethan Escasinas and Gabriel Calungcagin. School coordinators are Jessica Davis and Kyle Finley.

National Engineering Design Challenge

• La Plata, first place. Team members are Paul Blachek, Pranesh George, Elijah Merkle and Marcellus White. School coordinators are Rachel Clark and Marisa Capalbo.
• North Point, second place. Team members are Natalia Prozik, Madelyn Lehrter, Aiden Mobley and Sarah Roszell. School coordinators are Jessica Davis and Kyle Finley.
• St. Charles High School, third place. Team members are Clyde Agustin, Gabriel Barrera-Ruiz, Kavon Washington and Ibrahim Osman. School coordinators are Leah Pennington and Terence Stone.

Wearable Technology Challenge

• La Plata, first place. Team members are Grace Dinnea and Steven House. School coordinators are Rachel Clark and Marisa Capalbo.