Charter School of Wilmington Wins National STEM Competition and $100K – Delaware Foundation for Science & Mathematics Education

Students from the Charter School of Wilmington have been named National Winners of the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, taking home a $100,000 prize package for their groundbreaking healthcare innovation.

Charter School of Wilmington won the national 2025 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition. The Delaware high school students earned top honors after presenting their project live to a panel of judges in Washington, D.C.

Their winning solution, the “Akqua-Gel hydrogel bandage,” tackles the state’s growing physician shortage by enabling remote wound monitoring through advanced technology. The smart bandage integrates AI-powered features, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and 3D-printed components to track key wound-healing indicators such as moisture, pH, and oxygen levels.

Linked to a mobile app, the device allows both patients and doctors to monitor wounds in real time – potentially cutting down hospital visits and easing strain on overburdened healthcare systems.

Delaware has been hit especially hard by a shortage of medical professionals, with some counties experiencing wait times for primary care that have surged nearly 200%. The students designed the AKQUA-Gel to be part of the solution, aiming to increase access to care and improve patient outcomes through smart, accessible technology.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition challenges students nationwide to use STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to solve real-world problems. Delaware’s team members are Aishwarya Reddy, Asvika Gobinathan, Elaine Zuo, Anna Huang, Arya Anilkumar, Subiksha Srinivasan Vidya and Niharika Addagada, while the team is moderated by teacher Cindy Tanzer.

To watch the Charter School of Wilmington team’s project video, click here.

Article & photo courtesy TownSquare Live / Inset photo courtesy Charter School of Wilmington.