Built by Students, Bound for Nationals: Five Holton Teams Advance in TEAMS Engineering Competition

Holton’s engineering students didn’t wait for an opportunity—they created one.

Five teams from Holton’s Engineering Club participated in the 2026 TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science) competition and all five qualified to compete for Best-in-Nation honors June 22–26 in Washington, D.C.

“It is such an impressive achievement—especially considering that it’s all student-driven,” said Alessandra King, Upper School Math Teacher and faculty advisor for the club.

The program began with a single idea. Two years ago, Lydia O’Q. ’26 approached Dr. King about starting an Engineering Club. “This club is her brainchild and will be her legacy to Holton,” Dr. King said. “It’s the students’ drive, dedication, and interest that make the difference.”

The TEAMS competition is made up of four parts: a one-hour Multiple Choice exam, a well-researched paper on the focus topic of the year, a Design/Build Challenge, and a Mathematical Modeling competition. For the Design/Build challenge, students tackled a cantilever beam project—testing designs, analyzing results, and adapting in real time.

“The Design/Build competition was particularly difficult this year because students had not worked much with levers before,” Dr. King said. That unfamiliarity stretched students to experiment, take risks, and try again. “Above all, it’s about resilience and grit—being able to face questions they do not know the answers to, and learning how to move forward.”

As the teams prepare for nationals, their success reflects more than strong results—it highlights a culture of initiative, collaboration, and students willing to find a way or make one.

With special congratulations to the three teams that placed First, Second and Third in the state of Maryland for the same competition:

• First Place in MD: Lydia O'Q. '26, Remy C. '26, Maggie S. '26, and Zahra R. '26
• Second Place in MD: Dash H. '28, Corinne L. '28, and Zara E. '28 
• Third Place in MD: Lauren H. '27, Merritt F. '27, Sloane Q. '27, and Cecilia C. '27