Newburyport High Takes Second Place at RWDC Nationals

While we were posting our latest blog entry, our local Newburyport High School (NHS) team was battling it out at the nationals for the Real World Design Challenge (RWDC). We’re pleased to report that our local team stood out once again and catapulted Massachusetts to an impressive second place finish! We met up with the NHS student team and staff to extend our 2B2 congratulations and to get the story behind the wins.

Descending on D.C.
The RWDC nationals brought to a close this new annual competition which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The RWDC presents high school students with an energy or environmental problem currently encountered in the engineering field. Teams are asked to design a technical solution within a specific set of parameters. The theme of this first of its kind competition was “Aviation and Fuel Consumption”.

Specifically, the initial state level challenge was to redesign existing aircraft to improve fuel efficiency while maintaining performance capability. The top team for each state took on an advanced challenge for the national competition. This national challenge called for the teams to build on their prior design work “to reduce the drag on a transonic aircraft flying at 5.5 mach and 37,000 feet.” The state championship teams had less than one month to submit their final designs.

Fifty-four high school students representing 10 states from across the nation descended on Washington, D.C. for the March 20-22 nationals. The competition began on Saturday morning at the National 4H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Each state team had 20 minutes to present their final design to one of several panels of judges primarily from the field of engineering. A 15 minute Question and Answer (Q&A) period followed each presentation. The teams were asked to discuss the technical aspects of their design, as well as how and why they arrived at their proposed solution.

The “Final Three”
By Saturday afternoon, the judges emerged from their deliberations to announce the names of the three teams who were selected to advance to the finalist round. The NHS team representing Massachusetts had made the cut! So had the state teams for Hawaii and Pennsylvania.


The “Final Three” was held at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The finalist teams had revamped their presentations for a broader panel of “celebrity VIP” judges from industry, academia and the federal government. Each 15 minute technical and marketing presentation was followed by a 10 minute Q&A session. Presentations were delivered at the Omni IMAX Theater to an audience which included students from the other 7 states who competed in the nationals.


The finalists entered the “Final Three” knowing the judging was based on their design solutions, presentations and project journals. No one knew where each stood relative to the other finalists. By the end of the night, everyone would know.

Our Massachusetts team took top credit for producing the design with the lowest drag! Massachusetts also took second place in the overall RWDC nationals! First place went to Hawaii with third place going to Pennsylvania.

In the end, our NHS team had beaten 13 teams across 7 Massachusetts high schools to win the state round. They had then gone on to beat 8 of the 10 state championship teams who competed in the RWDC nationals! This stellar team and its track record have clearly made their way into the annals of NHS

Flash Back – How NHS Did It
We at 2B2 were eager to learn how our hometown team barreled to the top of this inaugural RWDC competition. We flash back now to see how NHS did it. In our look back we caught glimpses of some of their hallmarks to success.

Divide and Conquer
NHS was quick to mobilize its seven person RWDC student team. Team captain, Thayer Adsit, was even quicker to split up the team into two work groups.

Thayer Adsit, Travis Souther and Tom Svirsky made up the Design Team. The Design Team was responsible for designing and testing the different variations of wings.

Philip Arets, Belle Douglass, Irene Jacqz and Molly Picillo made up the Document and Research Team. This team was responsible for analyzing test results data and targeting variables for second round testing.

This organization leveraged individual skills, broke down the heavy workload into manageable pieces, and highlighted critical path tasks and deadlines. The organization also enabled a modus operandi which was both focused and collaborative.

Keep Honing Your Design
The NHS team chartered their own course forward to respond to the RWDC challenge. The team followed an iterative process using professional engineering software. They applied standard engineering principles and disciplines. Their complete body of work from the RWDC is on display at our 2B2 Burgess Museum. The following is a synopsis of the team’s winning operating model.

Mission clarity and focus: Their mission was to improve the design of the wing on small, transonic, commercial aircraft to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency.

Preliminary design decisions: They first narrowed down the field of wing designs from the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign airfoil database to a starter set of 12. Only airfoils which were thin and long with a defined trailing edge and flat top made the cut.

They then selected variables for design and test runs: airfoil shape, swept angle and base chord length affecting wing planform. Given their impact on lift and drag, altering these variables would pave the way to a final design which maximized lift while minimizing drag. Additional variables were also identified for second round testing including wingspan and angle of attack.

CAD Design and Simulation Testing: The selected airfoils and variables combined into 75 unique permutations! Design templates were built for each of these wing designs using CAD software. The 75 design scenarios were tested using simulation software. Streams of spreadsheets were generated containing values for lift, drag and weight.


Data Analysis and Strategy Development: Spreadsheet data was analyzed for patterns and trends. This analysis led to the classification of wing designs into “Junior Varsity”, “Varsity” and “All Star” teams. The focus now turned to the 4 high performing wings in the “All Star” team: CAST102, NPLX, RAE5212, and WHITCOMB.

A design and test strategy was developed for each of the “Final Four”. In unique, iterative fashion, test variables were altered and wing designs were refined. This added 30 more design scenarios to the second round test load! The goal was to optimize drag and match lift more closely to weight.

Convergence Analysis: Second round test results all pointed to the NPLX as the wing to hone in on for final design. The swept angle was kept constant at its optimal level. Adjustments were made to the wingspan and angle of attack. The design was run at higher mesh settings which calculated more lift and a lower drag force. The NHS’ team had arrived at their final design.

Build and Prove Your Case
NHS’ final wing utilized the NPLX airfoil with a 36 foot wingspan and a 27 degree swept angle. It flew at an angle of attack of 4.25 degrees. 16,820 pounds of lift was sufficient for a weight of 16,247 pounds. The final plane had a drag force of 998.928 pounds at cruise speed, with a lift-to-drag ratio of approximately 16.8.


NHS Innovative and Pragmatic Education
The team’s organizational and operating model had led them to victory. We came to see that these models were grounded in the innovative and pragmatic education offered at Newburyport High School. We were impressed to learn that NHS has been at the forefront of high school technology engineering programs for nearly a decade!

NHS’ Technology Engineering Department opened its doors 9 years ago. It offers introductory and advanced classes in robotics, CAD, Product Design, Web Design and Video Production. Classroom learning is practically applied in its system of integrated technology and engineering labs. These labs are equipped with an array of professional industry-standard hardware and software.

The labs are furnished in part by industry leaders such as Parametric Technologies Corporation (PTC) of Newton, MA. PTC donates its engineering software to high schools but it is the high schools which must provide the training. PTC and NHS have been models for this industry-education partnership for the last 8 years. For example, NHS was the first high school to use PTC’s Pro-Engineer software and the only high school invited to participate in the inaugural announcement of the RWDC at the Massachusetts State House.

NHS has also forged long term relationships with community leaders and organizations. Among other roles, these community partners have helped secure funding and other resources for NHS’ Technology Engineering program. For example, the engineering lab is equipped with its own milling machine thanks in part to the Newburyport Educational Business Coalition.

This external reach carries into the diversity and variety of learning environments offered at NHS. Classroom studies are reinforced with hands-on lab work. Extra-curricular projects are integrated with internal curriculums. These external competitions have become part of the dynamic learning media for NHS’ Technology Engineering Department. RWDC is the most recent addition to a host of state and national competitions where you’ll find NHS competing. These include the State Science Fair, the Museum of Science Competitions, and the BU Robotics Challenge.

NHS “Go For It” and “Can Do” Culture
This innovation and pragmatism in education can only thrive in an underlying “Go for It” and “Can Do” culture. You need only spend a few minutes with NHS staff and students to see how alive this culture is and how core it is to the success of the school and the people within its doors.


Stephen Smith, who is both chair and instructor for NHS’ Technology Engineering Department, first puts it into words. “The school fosters a positive environment for kids to explore in a lot of different areas and ways. This is good for the students, the staff and the leadership. It makes all the difference. It means everything!”

NHS Senior and RWDC team captain, Thayer Adsit, is a great example of the inquisitiveness and initiative which the NHS environment promotes. He’s not only led NHS to victory in most of the external technical competitions, he’s been the driving force behind NHS joining the game. His advice to students coming up in the high school ranks demonstrates how this motivating culture resonates throughout the school. “I’d encourage students to go out on your own and seek out competitions online. You may not win them all, but there are definitely things you can try.”

NHS Strong Independent Spirit
Independence goes hand-in-hand with initiative. The NHS environment not only encourages but enables students to develop a strong independent spirit.

Sarah Leadbeater, Technology Engineering Instructor who served as team coach for the RWDC, described how independent spirits are a by-product of NHS’ educational environment. “We put the RWDC team together, gave them the competition, and then got out of their way. My main role was asking the team “What do you need from me? I then followed through with mobilizing whatever resources they needed.”

Both Sarah and Stephen emphasize that Sarah’s RWDC coach role was not so different than the instructor role at NHS. Stephen explains. “We function more as facilitators and coaches rather than teachers. We give the kids the resources but then we stay “hands off” as much as possible.”

NHS Senior, Irene Jacqz, confirmed the independent spirits at work on the RWDC project. “Obviously our teachers were awesome with their support. So was our mentor from MIT. But we were very self-directed and independent in doing our work.”

NHS Healthy Team and Competitive Spirit
In a school of independent thinkers and doers, there is no lack of healthy team and competitive spirit at NHS. From what we could see, both faculty and students are infected.


Sarah exuded both as she described the team’s final RWDC design hours and their performance at the nationals. “During the last days of final design, we all kept checking our text messages. We couldn’t wait for the new drag number from the latest simulation…The national competition was very fierce but friendly. Our team also did awesome with the Q&A session. They were hands down the best!”

NHS Senior, Tom Svirsky, demonstrated this healthy competitive spirit when he found several openings to relay the team’s standing in the RWDC competition. “I’m most proud of how far we made it in the competition. Winning Massachusetts was unbelievable. But making it all the way to 2nd place in the nationals was incredible. Plus we had the best drag of the whole competition! ”

Caliber of Individual Students
Ultimately the driving force behind NHS’ impressive standing at the RWDC lies in the caliber of the individual students who made up the team. Here’s what struck us the most.!


All are level headed, down-to-earth, and grounded. They take pride in their work and their accomplishments but the limelight has not gone to their heads.

All are extremely well-rounded and actively involved. They excel academically, play sports, and do community service.

All are people-oriented and have great interpersonal and communication skills. Their social networking skills would be tough to match as well!

NHS Senior, Philip Arets, drove home their strong people orientation when we asked the team for their most valuable learning from the RWDC. “I’m a huge fan of meeting different people. That’s always a valuable experience.”

NHS Freshman, Molly Picillo, was quick to recognize the team’s communication skills as she reflected on what made her proud during the RWDC. “I’m most proud of how different our presentation was from the other teams. Theirs were more like memorized scripts. Ours was more of a dialogue.”

Sarah jumps in with her praise and then her commentary on the team’s natural social networking capability. “We had more of a national conversation. Of course, we also had the most teams in the audience routing for us in the finalist rounds. That’s because from the beginning of the nationals, our team had made friends and mobilized people for games of Frisbee and Volley Ball!”

Building the STEM Pipeline
The DOE reiterated its objectives for rolling-out the RWDC in its press releases and on its web site. “RWDC’s mission is to inspire and engage all students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and to highlight the potential of future workers in science and engineering fields. The purpose of the RWDC is to ensure the future of our Nation’s economic competitiveness by inspiring today’s students to become tomorrow’s engineers.”

The DOE can post “mission accomplished” next to the NHS RWDC team. The five seniors on the NHS team are enrolled in the engineering programs of renowned universities including Columbia University and Worcester Polytechnical Institute. NHS Senior, Travis Souther, who was not able to join the team interview, will be pursuing his engineering degree as a member of the United States Army.

The RWDC objective of inspiring and engaging students to pursue STEM education and engineering careers was met with NHS Freshman, Belle Douglass. Belle explains. “I was simply taking a Robotics class when I was drafted to be part of the RWDC. I didn’t know if I wanted to do engineering. But after RWDC I now know that I do.”

NHS is clearly a leading activist in and advocate for building the nation’s STEM pipeline. NHS plans to put the $2,000 award for placing 2nd in the RWDC towards a 3D printer for its engineering lab. The printer will enable students to have 3 dimensional views of the designs they produce with CAD software. Sarah Leadbeater explains the power of this tool. “You’ll be able to hold the object in your hand. You’ll be able to feel it and look at it from all angles. It will also cut down dramatically the time to build the objects. We’ll be able to shift our focus to learning what makes a good design.” Unfortunately, Sarah informs us that the 3D printer is extremely expensive. NHS will need to apply for grant money and solicit contributions to fund this powerful investment.

Stephen Smith’s excitement is also tempered with realism when he informs us of the explosive growth in class registrations for the Technology Engineering Department. “This fall alone, over 635 NHS students signed up for our classes! But we’re only three people in this department and there are no signs that budgets will change in today’s economy. Sadly, without enough staff we’re forced to turn kids away”

Both NHS staff and students remain enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of NHS’ Technology Engineering program. Sarah demonstrates this with one final story. “You would have been amused to see the kids at the airport this weekend. I have never flown with a group of people so fascinated by planes. When we were in the air, they spent the entire time staring out the window at our wing and discussing the pros and cons of its construction. While on the ground they just stared at the airplanes and discussed the purposes of the many variations of wing design.”


The Underlying Story
So, we end this blog entry talking about airports and planes. We can’t help but feel that we’ve come full circle with this story.


Yes, this is a human interest story of “Local High School Kids Do Good”. Yes, it’s a topical story about “The Growing Challenge of Fuel Efficiency in Aviation”. Yes, it’s a current events story about an “Award Ceremony Hosted at 2B2”. But because it is all of these stories, it is also our own 2B2 story. We have made foot notes for history, educated our readers on a host of topics, and promoted our community. This also then becomes a story of Plum Island Aerodrome’s “Mission Statement in Action.”

Plum Island Aerodrome congratulates NHS and its RWDC team on taking 2nd place at the RWDC Nationals! Our best wishes for continued success in your academic and professional careers.

Written by Charlotte Vincent