Team of Naperville students take home top prize in international competition at Space

At the same time three Naperville teens were completing their homework and studying for tests for their high school classes, they were pitching a business proposal at an international STEM and entrepreneurship competition held at Space Center Houston.

The students, who hail from Naperville Central and Naperville North high schools, were among the 25 finalists in the 2023-24 Conrad Challenge, which began with more than 4,000 high school students from 50 countries working to design solutions to global challenges.

As part of the finals, the trio had to pitch their invention to judges and ended up being one of five student teams recognized with the top honor of being named Pete Conrad scholars.

Andrew Bukowski, 17, and Eddy Zhang, 17, who attend Naperville Central, and Ben Zhang, 16, from Naperville North, worked an estimated 1,000 hours collectively on their proposal, called the SmartSeat, an algorithm-based variable seat cushion designed to combat bad posture and prolonged pressure exposure.

Their innovation used medical research, science and engineering principles for those at risk of seating-related health complications ranging from lower back pain to blood clots. The goal, they said, was to help people who are disabled and wheelchair-bound as well as workers who sit for long periods of time, such as truck drivers or office workers.

The teens teamed up last summer and then began researching, writing and creating a business model for the SmartSeat. They sometimes would work until 10 or 11 p.m. and then be up again at 4 a.m. revising and tweaking their plan, they said.

They started with an idea and a desire to solve a problem, they said, and it took off from there.

After pitching the proposal in the April finals, the SmartSeat team members were named Pete Conrad Scholars and took the top prize in the health and nutrition category of the Conrad Challenge.

“The biggest thing that I am most grateful for is the fact that Conrad taught us that it’s possible for us to do this,” Ben said. “The only thing we are being limited by is what do we think we can do and how much effort are we able and willing to put in. How much are we able to challenge the status quo.”

The Naperville team joined other winners and runner-ups from the United States as well the Czech Republic, China, the United Kingdom and Bulgaria. Other categories in the competition were aerospace and aviation; cyber-technology and security; and energy and environment.

“This year’s Conrad Challenge winners are outstanding inventors,” William T. Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston, said in a statement. “I am thrilled by their enthusiasm and unique skills that have propelled them to this level. Their inventions are ideas that will become viable products which can be used in our everyday lives, and by astronauts in space.”

The SmartSeat team won a $1,000 grant to put towards their company and will receive patent support.

“The kids put in a lot of effort,” their coach Junqi Xie said. “It’s really amazing.”

All three Naperville students will be seniors in the fall. While they go to separate high schools, they have known each other since elementary school.

The week at the Space Center this spring “was the best week of our lives,” Ben said.

“We honestly didn’t think we would win,” Ben said. “We didn’t think we would make it to finals. We were all saying this has been a great journey. This has been such an awesome experience working with these guys.”

Eddy said the SmartSeat team “worked insanely hard.”

“We weren’t arrogant,” he said. “We thought we will have fun. We already made it to this stage. Let’s meet a lot of new people and try our best. We didn’t have the expectation that we are going to win.”

He said the group met a wide variety of passionate, hard-working, smart entrepreneurs at the competition.

“The instant connection we developed was so profound,” Eddy said.

Andrew said what they learned during the process was not to listen to naysayers.

“People are going to say this isn’t going to work,” Ben said. “They are going to say you are too young, too immature, this isn’t something you can do. The effort you put in is real. The time you put in is real. Don’t look at what other people are saying. Put in the work you need to, and you really do reap what you sow.”

During the months of research, the friends said they were respectful of one another’s ideas, had mature discussions and debates, learned to consider a variety of viewpoints and admitted to one another when they were wrong. There was a lot of trial and error, they said.

Each member took on a different role based on their own strengths and interests. Ben was the chief executive officer. Eddy took on business roles, including finance and marketing, and Andrew worked more on the engineering, coding and software side.

They said they see the business world intertwined with the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, and they plan to incorporate their business, develop their product, and eventually patent and market it.

While they are doing this, they are working on their college applications.

Eddy would like to pursue business.

Ben said he thinks business and STEM go hand-in-hand and would like to pursue a dual degree.

Andrew plans to focus on math and computer science and has a passion for technology and problem solving. He said he may look at technology entrepreneurship and bring a cool product to the world.

“Our main advice is don’t let other people shut your ideas down,” Andrew said.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.