TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Science Park High School students are part of a team that won the 2026 East Coast Space Settlement Design Competition by developing the best plan for mining materials on the planet Venus.

High school students from throughout New Jersey were organized into 25-person teams that functioned as mock aerospace companies to set up a settlement design on Venus for 50 years in the future for human beings to successfully setup mining operations on the planet. Students had to use their research tools, gain and apply scientific content, take into account human factors, work on understanding material science, and demonstrate their understanding of finances and how industry works to design a winning proposal.

“This remarkable achievement reflects the brilliance, creativity, and perseverance of our Science Park High School students,” said Superintendent León. “The Space Settlement Design Competition challenges students to think like engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs while solving problems related to humanity’s future in space. Their success demonstrates the power of Newark Public Schools to cultivate globally competitive talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

“Our students are showing the world what is possible when young minds are challenged to think big,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Winning this competition and advancing to the international stage is an extraordinary accomplishment. We are proud of these students, their faculty advisor Mr. Ashraf, and the entire Science Park High School community for representing Newark with such excellence.”

A total of 14 Science Park High School students participated in the competition. Justin Rivera, Kayla Wynter, Gianel Solano, Valery Tume, Gabrielle Okerchiri, and Imani Barnes were members of the team that presented the winning proposal to a panel of judges at the competition. They have qualified for the competition’s International Finals, which will be held at Walt Disney World and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Seniors Feyisayomi Adekuoroye and Imani Barnes were recognized with awards and $100 honorarium for their outstanding roles on the teams.

Science Park High School Principal Darleen L. Gearhart said the victory reflects the school’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and innovation in STEM education.

“Our students rose to the challenge of designing a complex space settlement while working together as a professional engineering team,” Principal Gearhart said. “They demonstrated not only technical skill but also leadership, creativity, and collaboration. I want to thank Wahab Ashraf, one of our biology teachers who guided our students in preparing for the competition. We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievement and excited to see them represent Science Park High School and Newark Public Schools on the international stage.”

The additional Science Park High School students who competed were:

• Thayna Almedia
• Makayla Muneshar
• Mariyah Muneshar
• Melany Jerez
• Katie Chavez
• Kimberly Solorzano
• Andres Vizcaya

The Space Settlement Design Competition is modeled after the types of design challenges faced by real aerospace companies. Students must integrate concepts from physics, engineering, biology, economics, and environmental science while working under tight deadlines and presenting their ideas to industry experts.