U.S. Department of Education announced the ten winning teams of the Power Your Future Challenge, celebrating dedicated teachers and their innovative students from schools all across the country. Winning teams received $5,000 each.
Meet the ten winning teams:
PriTay Kinetic Energy Capture Turnstile
duPont Manual High School | Louisville, Kentucky
A kinetic energy-harvesting turnstile that converts human movement into usable electricity through rotational mechanics. The system aims to capture wasted energy from daily commuter traffic in urban spaces like subway stations and schools, storing it in capacitors to power lighting and other electrical systems.
Click here to view visuals of duPont Manual High School’s submission.
Charging Stations on Campus
Greater Lowell Tech High School | Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
A system of solar-powered charging stations that provides secure storage and charging capabilities for student electronics in outdoor spaces. The system includes both small-scale device charging and EV charging stations, demonstrating how clean energy solutions can address varying electrical needs across a school campus.
Click here to view visuals of Greater Lowell Tech High School’s submission.
Student-led energy conservation plan
Helix Charter High School | La Mesa, California
An energy reduction and renewable energy transition plan that combines real-time energy monitoring with student-led conservation initiatives. The project aims to reduce campus energy consumption by 10% while providing students hands-on experience in energy management and sustainability practices.
Click here to view visuals of Helix Charter High School’s submission.
Next Generation Sustainable Living Clean Energy Solutions
Ivy Academy | Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
A clean energy education initiative that includes converting a gas generator to solar power for racing events, developing portable solar backpacks, and creating a tiny house educational lab. The project combines hands-on renewable energy training with real-world applications in disaster relief and community support, while providing students with practical experience in solar installation, HVAC systems, and energy management.
Anaerobic Composting: Food Waste to Biofuels
Jose Marti STEM Academy | Union City, New Jersey
A proposal to convert food waste from a school cafeteria into biofuel through anaerobic digestion, providing a renewable energy source for vehicles and heating systems. The project aims to address both food waste reduction and clean energy generation while giving students hands-on experience with composting, chemical processes, and environmental science applications.
Click here to view visuals of Jose Marti STEM Academy’s submission.
Immersive Training Initiative for Energy Independence
Kealakehe High School | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
A virtual reality training program that provides immersive simulations for clean energy careers like solar installation, wind turbine maintenance, and geothermal energy systems. Through VR technology and industry-aligned curriculum, the project will prepare high school students for renewable energy careers while making technical training more accessible.
Click here to view visuals of Kealakehe High School’s submission.
dro+ver System Solution (dSS)
Legacy High School | Wichita Falls, Texas
A solar-powered agricultural system combining a drone and rover (dro+ver) to optimize farming through automated monitoring and maintenance of crops. The project integrates aerial surveillance with ground-based operations to reduce labor demands, conserve water, and improve crop yields while running entirely on renewable energy, with potential applications in disaster relief and future space exploration.
Click here to view visuals of Legacy High School’s submission.
Algae Bioreactors: Reduce School Carbon Emissions
Morris County School of Technology | Denville, New Jersey
A multi-system algae bioreactor installation that combines vertical, horizontal, and open pond designs to generate clean energy and compost from school food waste. The project will produce biodiesel and bioethanol while capturing CO2 emissions, with three integrated reactor designs working together to maximize efficiency and provide students hands-on experience with biotechnology and renewable energy systems.
Click here to view visuals of Morris County School of Technology’s submission.
OmniWind: Micro-turbines for a Cleaner Tomorrow
Nekoosa High School | Nekoosa, Wisconsin
A micro-turbine design project that creates efficient, omnidirectional wind turbines with retractable vanes for continuous operation in varied wind conditions. The initiative combines CAD modeling, 3D printing, and wind tunnel testing to develop quiet, aesthetically pleasing turbines optimized for residential and commercial microgrid applications while providing students hands-on experience with renewable energy engineering.
Click here to view visuals of Nekoosa High School’s submission.
PowerED: Transforming Student Movement into Sustainable Energy
Selah High School | Selah, Washington
A kinetic energy harvesting system that converts everyday student activities into clean power through multiple technologies, including smart backpacks, floor tiles, and playground equipment. The project integrates physical movement capture with digital gamification to create a self-sustaining energy ecosystem while teaching students about renewable energy through hands-on participation.
Click here to view visuals of Selah High School’s submission.