Meet the 2025 National Finalists!

Over 2,100 teams accepted the challenge in the 2025 eCYBERMISSION competition, but only 20 have risen to the top as this year’s National Finalists! These outstanding teams will head to Chantilly, Virginia, this summer for the National Judging & Educational Event (NJ&EE), happening June 23-27 — and you can be part of the action from wherever you are. Mark your calendars for June 26 from 1-4PM ET and tune in to the National Showcase livestream, where the National Finalists will present their innovative, nationally-ranked STEM projects. During the event, you’ll even have the chance to vote for your favorite team to win the coveted People’s Choice Award! Then, don’t miss the excitement of the National Awards Ceremony livestream on June 27 from 10AM-12PM ET, where we’ll reveal the winners of the 2025 eCYBERMISSION competition! The countdown is on! For now, meet the brilliant teams shaping the future through STEM.

6th Grade

Windventors

Windventors sought to decrease fossil-fuel based electricity generation by developing micro-wind turbines to be used on Metro-rail cars, generating energy from the trains’ movement. The team is comprised of students Siddhant Agarwal, Aman Nayar, and Tanvir Nayar and Team Advisor Monika Maheshwari from Rockville, Maryland. 

Microplastic Mavericks

Microplastic Mavericks tested whether sodium alginate water additives could absorb microplastics in an effort to tackle the problem of microplastic pollution in waterways. The team is comprised of students Arjun Manne, Jason Min, and Param Verma and Team Advisor Gopi Venkata Manne from Alston Ridge Middle School in Cary, North Carolina. 

The Exploding Turtles

The Exploding Turtles developed a soil moisture sensor and automated watering system to prevent gardeners from under- or over-watering their plants. The team is comprised of students Arihant Kanwar, Vikram Kudva, Vivek Kudva, and Vincent Slivinski and Team Advisor Debra Las from John Adams Middle School in Rochester, Minnesota. 

The Prairie Protectors

The Prairie Protectors investigated the impact of the oil industry on prairie biodiversity, native grass growth, and soil health, using this information to create and disseminate seed bombs for prairie restoration. The team is comprised of students London Ferran, Tatum Lust, Kyndall Ordonez, and Emmerson Turner and Team Advisor Michelle Bueermann from Southcrest Christian School in Lubbock, Texas. 

The Clean Water Crew

The Clean Water Crew sought to identify the cleanest water for Phoenix/Scottsdale residents by testing samples of tap water from various homes, parks, and schools. The team is comprised of students Lillian Gerstman, Juliana Hajbandeh, Ava McHugh, and Ayah Weitz and Team Advisor Bailey Mittelstadt from Sonoran Sky Elementary School in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

7th Grade

EcoPaw Engineers

EcoPaw Engineers developed the “Smart Dog Waste Monitoring and Reporting System”, which employs a dual system of automated detectors to visually detect dog waste and an app for community reporting to prevent uncollected dog waste in urban areas. The team is comprised of students Aneruddha Das and Kushal Yarlagadda and Team Advisor Santanu Das from Eagle Ridge Middle School in Ashburn, Virginia. 

BiteRight

BiteRight developed a personalized meal planning app for adolescents with dietary restrictions to ensure they receive adequate nutrition for development. The team is comprised of Rajan Khiani and Neel Tripathy and Team Advisor James Chamberlain from Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Allergen Avengers

Allergen Avengers designed SafeStrips, a testing strip to detect common food allergens, to ensure those with food allergies only consume food that is safe for them. The team is comprised of Sophia Hackfort and Trisha Hamirwasia and Team Advisor Aaron Mueller from Scullen Middle School in Naperville, Illinois. 

Clean Beam

Clean Beam developed a chemical-free sanitizing device to eliminate algae, bacterial and viral pathogens, and parasites from water to address the issue of contaminates in livestock drinking water. The team is comprised of students Derek Craig Jr, Landon Johnson, and Gabriel Potter and Team Advisor Jason Arant from OSIEL in Bixby, Oklahoma.  

BrAIniac Buddy

BrAIniac Buddy created an AI learning companion for students with learning disabilities that uses generative AI to create Socratic method-based lessons for reading, writing, and math education. The team is comprised of students Brynley Belnap, Lucy Caldwell, Anson Gibbons, and Grayson Judd and Team Advisor Lora Gibbons from Making STEM Grow in Stansbury Park, Utah.

8th Grade

BIOSORB

BIOSORB tested a variety of cellulose-based sponges with various additives to identify which is most effective at absorbing oil in simulated marine oil spills. The team is comprised of students Priya Deshpande, Radhika Deshpande, and Ani Nishanian and Team Advisor Nunik Nishanian from Clifton, Virginia. 

Safe Sip System

Safe Sip System created a system to prevent drink tampering in bars and restaurants by using a pH-measuring straw coupled with AI monitoring. The team is comprised of students Isabel Hilmers and Arianna Huriash and Team Advisor Jennifer Roberts from Coral Springs Middle School in Coral Springs, Florida. 

Hydro Heroes

Hydro Heroes sought to find a way to remove microplastics from tap water and found chia seed flocculant to be more successful than traditionally-used chemical additives that can be harmful to human health. The team is comprised of students Olivia Kim, Elizabeth Moody, Annie Wei, and April Yao and Team Advisor Richard Gash from Bay Sea Scouts, Inc. in Bay Village, Ohio.

H2O Heroes

H2O Heroes studied the ability of various aquatic plants to reduce nitrate concentrations in water to prevent health risks associated with nitrate contamination for infants and young children. The team is comprised of students Andrew Fuller, Carson Kemper, and Kali Kemper and Team Advisor Jason Arant from OSIEL in Bixby, Oklahoma.

Pectin Pals

Pectin Pals created pectin hydrogels optimized for water retention to alleviate agricultural challenges associated with water scarcity in their native Nevada. The team is comprised of students Daniel Chang and Xuanzhe Wang and Team Advisor Erin Jamison from Hyde Park Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

9th Grade

Genetic Genies

Genetic Genies sought to uncover whether genetic testing impacts the lifestyle of cancer patients by resulting in a more-informed treatment plan. The team is comprised of students Yashvi Bhandari and Lana Softic and Team Advisor Divya Bhandari from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. 

Berryfresh - Berry Good Tech

Berryfresh – Berry Good Tech utilized machine learning to create an app that notifies users of the freshness of strawberries in their refrigerator to prevent food waste. The team is comprised of students Shrika Kota and Janhawi Patil and Team Advisor Deepti Salvi from Green Hope High School and Triangle Math and Science Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Wenika

Wenika designed a tornado alert system that could be heard in multiple environments without the need for additional power. The team is comprised of students Riley Campbell, Addison Graham, Josephine Nichols, and Orion Riddell and Team Advisor Richard Gash from Bay Sea Scouts, Inc. in Bay Village, Ohio. 

The Experimenters

The Experimenters conducted a mass survey to analyze perspectives on AI monitoring and censorship tool and quantified the tool’s accuracy and biases. The team is comprised of students Daniel Dao and Lawrence Dao and Team Advisor Thu Nguyen from Lawrence Virtual School in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Tubbins

Tubbins developed a headband that uses sound wave technology to enable those with visual impairments to maneuver the world around them. The team is comprised of students Oscar Boni, Kainen Kauffman, Loghan Schofield, and Rocco Skinner and Team Advisor Lori Burrato from Spokane Valley Tech in Spokane Valley, Washington.  

Congratulations to this year's National Finalists! We'll see you next month at NJ&EE!

Faith Morse

Sr. Communications and Marketing Specialist