Awards Ceremony at Space Center Houston honored student entrepreneurs with scholarships and patent assistance to support their innovations
HOUSTON, TX (April 27, 2024) – The Conrad Foundation announced the winners of the 2023-2024 Conrad Challenge, one of the world’s most highly regarded global STEM innovation and entrepreneurship competitions for high school students. At the Challenge’s Innovation Summit hosted by Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas, four student teams were recognized with the Challenge’s top honor of Pete Conrad Scholar, along with four Power Pitch winners in the categories of Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, and Health & Nutrition. Each member of the winning team receives scholarships, grants, patent support, laptops, and more.
“This year’s Conrad Challenge winners are outstanding inventors,” said William T. Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston. “I am thrilled by their enthusiasm and unique skills that have propelled them to this level. Their inventions are ideas that will become viable products which can be used in our everyday lives, and by astronauts in space.”
2023-2024 Conrad Challenge Winners
Aerospace & Aviation
- Pete Conrad Scholar: LotICE (California)
- Power Pitch Winner: LASAR | Laser Satellite Recovery (Czech Republic)
Cyber-Technology & Security
- Pete Conrad Scholar: Thunder Corgis | Inertial Positioning System (IPS) & Running Bits (Alabama & China)
- Power Pitch Winner: BIOMET (California, Texas, Georgia & India)
Energy & Environment
- Pete Conrad Scholar: ReefSound (UK & China)
- Power Pitch Winner: FIXON (Sofia, Bulgaria)
Health & Nutrition
- Pete Conrad Scholar: SmartSeat(Illinois)
- Power Pitch Winner: GRNLIMB | BioBionics (Texas)
“My husband, Pete Conrad, always supported innovators and entrepreneurs,” said Nancy Conrad, founder and chair of the Conrad Foundation. “He would be so proud of these students and what they’ve achieved at such a young age. They are helping to build our future, and shaping our future workforce.”
Since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, over 3,400 high school students representing more than 50 countries have been working in teams of two to five across oceans and time zones to design viable solutions to global challenges.
Twenty-five Finalist teams convened at Space Center Houston for the final stage of the competition, the Innovation Summit and EXPO, where they pitched their invention to judges and displayed designs, prototypes, and marketing materials. During the Summit, students, educators, Challenge alumni, subject matter experts, judges, and corporate sponsors alike were able to network and create friendships that will enhance Conrad’s global community of innovators.
Special Awards
- Innovative Teacher Award: Joel Schildwachter, nonPareil (Texas)
- Summit Engagement Award: AZMA GUARD (Panama)
- Social Media Award: LASAR | Laser Satellite Recovery (Czech Republic)
- Donald James Citizenship Awards: Healthy Companions | Tail Tracker & AZMA GUARD (Turkey & Panama)
- Glinsky Expo Exhibit Award for Best Tabletop: PROSTHETIC PIONEER & uSOLE (China & Maryland)
- Glinsky Expo Exhibit Award for Most Persuasive: AntlerArmour (Pennsylvania)
- Inaugural Space Center Houston Award for Best Entrepreneurial Innovator: AsterAid (Virginia)
Learn more about this year’s winners here.
Students interested in applying to compete in the 2024-25 Conrad Challenge can visit.
In addition to support from Space Center Houston and Dell Technologies, this year’s Innovation Summit was made possible by NASA, Battelle, Parallax, Arent Fox, Leangap, and Tranquility Lodge.
Media Contacts
Rashena Franklin
Communications and Marketing
[email protected]
Illiana Luna
Public Relations Specialist
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