MPHS Students Innovate Hydroponics for Community

A trio of innovative students from Mount Pleasant High School’s IB Design Level 2 class has earned national recognition for their work in sustainable urban farming. Peyton Kirkton, Andy Shiley, and Thacia Konstanski were recently named winners of the "Promising STEM Innovation Award" in the 16th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition.

The award, which includes a $1,000 grant, recognizes the team’s development of an autonomous vertical hydroponic system designed to address food insecurity. The Mount Pleasant High School team was selected from thousands of applications across the country as part of a group of 400 schools honored for their community-driven STEM solutions.

Image from the team's system design in Onshape

 

Innovation in the Classroom

The project utilizes a nutrient film technique, which circulates a thin film of water through pipes to provide plants with optimal oxygen and nutrients. The system is managed by an affordable microcontroller (costing only about $8 bucks), which features Wi-Fi capabilities and handles complex calculations to monitor the growing environment.

Peyton Kirkton, who spearheaded the design, integrated sensors into their design to track light, temperature, and humidity, allowing the system to suggest the best crops for a specific climate. Peyton explains,

To further automate the process, the design includes peristaltic pumps that automatically adjust pH levels and nutrient concentrations. Meanwhile, a unique seed germination feature uses capillary action—similar to how a sponge absorbs water—to autonomously maintain the perfect moisture level for new seeds.

And if you think that’s impressive, get this. Peyton is only a Sophomore.

Peyton Kirkton is currently in his sophomore year at Mount Pleasant High School

 

A Humanitarian Mission

While the technology is advanced, the students' primary focus remains on community impact. The team has partnered with Urban Promise and the Mary Campbell Center to bring fresh produce and the joy of gardening to local low-income communities and individuals with disabilities.

"The idea was to bring hydroponics and more efficient farming to low-income communities or people with disabilities who wouldn’t have the means to garden traditionally," says Senior Andy Shiley. For the Mary Campbell Center, the goal is to allow residents to grow plants in their rooms that "bring them joy".

The team conducting an interview via Zoom with Urban Promise

 

In Perfect Alignment

The students’ project is a cornerstone of the newly established IB Design Level 2 class at Mount Pleasant High School, which launched this school year with a small, inaugural cohort of just six students. The curriculum is specifically designed to be flexible and community-related, requiring students to develop solutions that address local needs.

And for Peyton, the class provided the essential structure to turn a long-term passion for hydroponics into a viable product.

“Their project meets all of the criteria for IB Design 2, and we’re able to propel that idea and make that into reality for him because it’s so tough to get the time to do it [outside of class],” said teacher Creighton Anderson. He noted that while the Samsung competition was an extra initiative that the students pursued independently, the success of the project has already proven that this is time well spent and reflects positively on both the school and the community.

The team uses cutting-edge software and equipment in class, such as 3D printers & laser-cutters, to bring their design concepts to life.

 

Next Steps

The team is currently in the "proof of concept" stage, utilizing their $1,000 award to purchase a VR headset. This technology allows the team to further refine the design of their hydroponics system to ensure it functions properly before they move into building final units.

The team says their ultimate goal is to build and ship eight to ten functional gardens to local families and community partners by the end of the year.

By providing the dedicated classroom time for this vision to flourish, the IB Design 2 class has empowered these students to transform a high-tech vision into a tangible lifeline for local community sustainability and a source of genuine joy for those who need it most.