It’s time to celebrate the innovative minds of Ohio’s students as we announce the winners of the 2025 #OhioSustainsSpace Design Challenge and the Sticker Design Contest!
In this year’s design challenge, students were tasked with a critical question: How do we improve the sustainability of life in low-Earth orbit, such as living aboard the Starlab space station? Participants were encouraged to develop a plan, system, or product that positively impacts the sustainable use of materials, habitable space, and/or energy, with the potential to translate these improvements to more sustainable living on Earth.
Through this challenge, students delved into the realms of space exploration and sustainability, prototyping real-world solutions to pressing issues. After advancing from school-level competitions, students presented their innovative solutions to a panel of judges, enhancing their confidence, communication skills, and reflective learning. This year, 120 students from 43 schools submitted their projects to the regional competition.
The Ohio STEM Learning Network, in collaboration with Starlab, hosts this annual statewide design challenge, inviting schools across Ohio to participate. To involve your school in future challenges, sign up for emails from the network.
Regional Design Challenge Winners
Read on for the winning elementary, middle, and high schools from each region. Regions are organized according to the regional Hubs of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, which played a crucial role in recruiting schools and serving as judges.
| Grade | School | Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | St. Paul School Salem Elementary | Akron Hub Winners |
| Middle | St. Paul School Salem Middle | Akron Hub Winners |
| High | East Canton High School | Akron Hub Winners |
| Elementary | Hillview Elementary | Central Ohio Hub Winners |
| Middle | Waggoner Road Middle School Robotics | Central Ohio Hub Winners |
| High | Marysville Stem Early College High School | Central Ohio Hub Winners |
| High | Dayton Regional STEM School | Dayton Hub Winners |
| Middle | St. Mary School, Chardon | Northeast Ohio Hub Winners |
| High | Hathaway Brown School - Science Research & Engineering Program | Northeast Ohio Hub Winners |
| Elementary | Van Buren Elementary School - STEAM | Northwest Ohio Hub Winners |
| Middle | Glandorf Elementary | Northwest Ohio Hub Winners |
| High | Tiffin Columbian | Northwest Ohio Hub Winners |
| Elementary | Chillicothe Intermediate School (G3) | Southeast Ohio Hub Winners |
| Middle | Chillicothe Intermediate School (G6) | Southeast Ohio Hub Winners |
| Elementary | North Avondale Montessori | Southwest Ohio Hub Winners |
| Middle | Indian Hill Middle School | Southwest Ohio Hub Winners |
| High | Warren County Career Center at Little Miami High School | Southwest Ohio Hub Winners |
Here is the complete list of schools invited to the statewide showcase:
- Beacon Elementary School
- CCTC Satellite – Ironton Middle School
- Chillicothe Intermediate (Grade 3)
- Chillicothe Intermediate School (Grade 6)
- Chillicothe Primary
- Dayton Regional STEM School
- East Canton High School
- French Run Elementary
- Glandorf Elementary
- Hathaway Brown School – Science Research & Engineering Program
- Hillview Elementary
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School
- Indian Hill Middle School
- Marysville STEM Early College High School
- Shenandoah Elementary School
- St. Mary School, Chardon
- St. Paul School, Salem Middle School
- Van Buren Elementary School – STEAM
- Waggoner Road Middle School – Robotics
- Warren County Career Center at Little Miami High School
- Waynesville High School
Sticker Design Contest Winners
In addition to the design challenge, students were invited to unleash their creativity in the Sticker Design Contest. This contest encouraged students to design a sticker akin to the iconic mission patches worn by astronauts, integrating symbolism and artistic expression.
The winning designs will be featured and used to promote the #OhioSustainsSpace Design Challenge. Students did not need to participate in the statewide design challenge to enter their sticker designs.
Congratulations to Our Sticker Design Winners:
- K-5th Grade Winner: AB at Kenton Elementary School – Teacher: Amy Boone
- 6-8th Grade Winner: IS at Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School – Teacher: Araz Suleymanli
- 9-12th Grade Winner: CB, TT at East Clinton High School – Teacher: Jessica Neumann
These students have demonstrated exceptional creativity and critical thinking, and their designs will be professionally produced and distributed.
K-5th Grade Winning Design
AB at Kenton Elementary School
Teacher: Amy Boone
Description: My design has an astronaut who is traveling in space. The astronaut is outside of Starlab and using advanced equipment to improve the flow of oxygen so that it is more reliable or efficient. The astronaut has a green patch on her spacesuit for this mission. She has a camera that is made of recycled material to reduce waste.
6-8th Grade Winning Design
IS at Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School
Teacher: Araz Suleymanli
Description:Â In the middle of our design, there’s a green tree, symbolizing our care for nature and the environment. The recycling symbol above the tree reminds us how important it is to reuse materials and reduce waste. This is key for making life sustainable in space and here on Earth. We also included a yellow outline of Ohio with a rocket launching from it to showcase how our state is a leader in finding solutions for space exploration. This highlights Ohio’s role in creating new technologies that help us live sustainably in space. Finally, we included an image of Earth to show the global impact of these efforts.
9-12th Grade Winning Design
CB, TT at East Clinton High School
Teacher: Jessica Neumann
Description: The outer ring and ring represents OSLN colors. The Starlab on the horizon with the recycle symbol represents the new horizons of space mission and the way they will reuse items in orbit.
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