Berkeley Heights Elementary Team Advances to NJ STEAM Tank Challenge Finals with Eco-Friendly Boat Engine Invention

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. — A team of fifth-grade students from Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School has advanced to the finals of the New Jersey STEAM Tank Challenge for the first time in Berkeley Heights Public Schools' elementary competition history, bringing with them an invention they believe could transform the boating industry.The team, CVC and Co., presented their invention — the Eco Wave, a solar-powered, eco-friendly boat engine — to the Board of Education at its May 6 meeting, drawing applause and questions from board members who encouraged the students to consider patenting their idea.Cameron, Vyom, Cooper and Dhruv, the four fifth-graders behind the project, each came to the invention with a deeply personal motivation. Cameron, who wants to be a zookeeper when she grows up, said she has always wanted to protect animals any way she can. Cooper's frustration was more relatable — his dad refuses to let him go on cruises because of their environmental impact. Vyom said he has been a fan of marine wildlife since he was old enough to talk, and Dhruv put it simply: "I love sea animals and I want to protect them."That shared passion drove them to design an engine that draws water through a filtered tube, compresses it and shoots it out the back to propel a boat forward — similar in concept to how a jet ski operates, but powered entirely by solar panels with a backup battery system. All materials in their design are sourced from New Jersey suppliers."Boat motors spill about 25 million gallons of petroleum annually," Cameron told the board. "Currently, boat engines directly discharge unburned fuel and oil into the ocean."The students cited data showing petroleum spilled by boat engines has grown from 614 million gallons in 2015 to 1.56 billion gallons in 2025, and projected that figure could reach 2.56 billion gallons by 2035 if current trends continue. Beyond petroleum spills, the team noted that conventional boat engines also produce nitrogen oxides — a primary ingredient in smog, ground-level ozone and acid rain — and that propeller turbulence in shallow waters blocks sunlight from reaching aquatic plants."We believe we can save marine life one step at a time with our motors," Dhruv said.The Eco Wave is designed using recycled steel, aluminum and copper, with polyethylene mesh filtering and bamboo-reinforced wiring. To prevent corrosion in salt water, the team incorporated a bio-based industrial coating made from beeswax, sourced from Neshanic Station Apiaries in Flemington. The team priced their motor at $21,400, positioning it within the range of conventional boat engines, which average between $8,000 and $60,000.To prepare for the finals, the team consulted with subject matter expert Mr. Healey, chief operating officer of Versa Valves, who advised them on preventing fish from getting caught in the filter by shaping it as a semi-sphere rather than a flat surface, confirmed that the jet ski concept validated their approach and helped them identify which metals would hold up in both fresh water and salt water.The team's path to the finals is the result of a rigorous multi-stage competition. Of 620 teams statewide in grades K through 12 that submitted pitch videos, 335 advanced to regional rounds. From 131 elementary teams in that group, only 20 advanced to the finals — CVC and Co. among them.The process began in October when students brainstormed ideas, formed groups and began developing 3D models using Tinkercad software. They filmed their two-minute pitch videos at Governor Livingston High School with the help of media teacher Mr. Voorhees and GL students, who also edited the footage before submission. From January through March, the teams built physical prototypes and delivered five-minute presentations to a panel of judges in a format modeled after the TV show Shark Tank.Elementary STEAM and Quest teacher Pamela Wilczynski, who has guided the team throughout the process, said the students' collaboration set them apart."Each group listened to one another, built on each other's ideas and turned challenges into opportunities," Wilczynski said. "Their teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills truly set them apart."Wilczynski also credited board member Gale Bradford with bringing the STEAM Tank program to the district in the first place. "Miss Bradford is the person who brought this idea to me," Wilczynski said, "and it has been an incredible experience."The final round will be held virtually the morning of May 20. The top three elementary teams will be announced in June, with winning teams invited to present at the New Jersey School Boards Association Conference in Atlantic City in October.Board member Sai Akiri suggested the district explore posting all student pitch videos to the district website, noting it could motivate future participants."Even for the people who did not make it to the final round, having them on our district website would be a great way of recognizing that," Akiri said.Click here to view presentation.Related article: Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School 5th Grade QUEST Students Advance to Finals in New Jersey STEAM Tank Challenge