On April 29, 50 students comprising 11 competition teams participated in the 2026 iDesign Competition: The Spectator Challenge. Schools represented included: John Paul II, Christ the King, Resurrection, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Rose, Our Lady of Hope and St. Peters.
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Annually, Camden Catholic welcomes local middle school students to compete in the iDesign Challenge, a competition to encourage the use of design thinking to imagine, create and innovate in order to solve a common problem. The winning team is awarded a $1,000 per participant scholarship to Camden Catholic High School for their freshman year.
The event kicked off with CCHS director of STEM Dr. An Nguyen providing the participants with an overview on design thinking and how to identify a problem, work within design constraints and utilize tools in order to innovate and achieve a realistic solution.
For The Spectator Challenge, participants were asked to design an innovative product that enhances the experience of a spectator at a specific event. Students worked together to brainstorm creative solutions to this problem, and came up with many different scenarios of spectator environments for various audiences, ranging from a passionate sports parent to a wheelchair-bound theatre patron to a younger sibling dealing with sensory issues.
Each team was mentored by CCHS students as they collected supplies, brainstormed, built, and tested their designs. The event culminated in a "Shark Tank" style presentation in Grandi Auditorium where each group pitched their design to a panel of judges. Ultimately, it was John Paul II's team of Modena, Micalina, Sophie, Alexandra and Ethan who were overjoyed to be named the winning team with their "Rain or Shine Bleachers." This design featured padded seats, heating and cooling coils for all-weather, a retractable roof and a removable tray for activities.
“Events like the iDesign Challenge show middle school students that innovation and compassion go hand in hand,” said Camden Catholic Principal Heather Crisci. “By using design thinking to solve real-world problems, these students are learning how creativity, collaboration, and empathy can improve the experiences of others. We are proud to host a competition that not only showcases their talents, but also reflects Camden Catholic’s commitment to STEM education, problem-solving, and forming thoughtful leaders for the future.”