At GHCDS, innovation doesn’t stop at the classroom door—it launches straight into orbit. Under the leadership of Ms. Wood, students in the NASA HUNCH elective (High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware) are stepping into the roles of future engineers, architects, scientists, and entrepreneurs, tackling real-world challenges connected to human spaceflight.
NASA HUNCH is a national program that invites students to collaborate on authentic problems faced by NASA scientists, engineers, and researchers. The future of space exploration depends on creative solutions to complex physiological, environmental, and logistical challenges—and our Panthers are answering that call with imagination, rigor, and teamwork.
Growing the Program
Last year marked a milestone as the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in NASA HUNCH for the first time, with two culinary teams, two biomedical teams, and one prototype & design team. This year, the program has grown even stronger:
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Two Culinary Teams:
Jumalie John & Dominic Hay and Saidah Banwaree & Annabelle Ploude -
Three Prototype & Design Teams:
Eric Sommer, Cuyler Roberts & Teague Gleason;
Tristian Samuel & Elias Ruderfer;
Mycal Marshall, Alex McCants & Vedant Mittal -
One Biomedical Team:
Ella Evora & Madelyn Donnelly
Culinary Innovation—TACOS, Space-Style
On January 26, the culinary teams welcomed Maria Progue, chef and owner of Mariia’s Cantina, who shared professional insights aligned with this year’s culinary theme: TACOS. Students are now refining recipes, honing techniques, and preparing for their March 15 cooking competition in Puerto Rico, where creativity and precision will be on full display.
Designing for Life Beyond Earth
On January 28, the prototype/design and biomedical teams presented their projects to three NASA engineers and project managers, receiving expert feedback as they move toward final builds. Their projects include:
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Collapsible Hygiene Stall for a Logistics Module
Vedant Mittal (12), Alex McCants (11), Mycal Marshall (12)
A scale model of a collapsible bathing/shower stall designed for use aboard the ISS—addressing privacy, efficiency, and limited space. -
Comparative Capillary Uptake in Porous Substrates Under Microgravity
Tristian Samuel (11), Elias Ruderfer (12)
A nano-scale lab concept to grow and monitor plants, exploring how fluids move through porous materials in microgravity. -
Chess from Trash: Reusing/Repurposing
Cuyler Roberts (10), Eric Sommer (10), Teague Gleason (10)
A creative reuse project that transforms would-be waste on the ISS into a fully functional chess set—board, pieces, and storage—promoting play, morale, and sustainability. -
Adaptive Lunar Habitat for Crew Wellness
Ella Evora (11), Madelyn Donnelly (12)
A concept design for a moon-based wellness habitat that blends aesthetic appeal, structural adaptability, and psychological grounding for crew members.
What’s Next
All teams are now finalizing prototypes and preparing for competition in Puerto Rico on March 14 (design/biomedical) and March 15 (culinary). With each iteration, students sharpen their problem-solving skills, practice professional communication, and experience the thrill of contributing ideas that matter.
From sustainable design to crew wellness—and tacos engineered for space—our Panthers are proving that big ideas can launch from St. Croix. We can’t wait to see where their ingenuity takes them next.
