Tompkins High School Students Recognized at NASA’s Global App Design Challenge for Innovative Sustainability Solution
Two students from Tompkins High School have earned global recognition at NASA’s prestigious 2024 International Space Apps Challenge, a competition that attracted nearly 10,000 entries from across the world. Senior Sahus Gupta and junior May Lynn Espinola received Honorable Mention for their innovative “FarmVis” app, which aims to address critical challenges in agriculture with a focus on sustainability and water management.
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge, which invites participants from around the globe to use NASA’s open data to tackle real-world problems, showcased the talents of professional coders, college students, and high school innovators. Gupta and Espinola’s app stood out among an impressive field of competitors, including other students, professionals, and researchers. Of nearly 100,000 participants, Gupta and Espinola were among the top 1%, with their entry being one of fewer than 20 projects to receive an Honorable Mention.
“We are so proud of Sahus and May Lynn for this accomplishment, and for being counted among the world’s best in this competition,” said Elisabeth Brodt, Principal of Tompkins High School. “It’s gratifying to know that what our students learn in our classrooms can influence what they do in the future and what they’re doing now.”
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The “FarmVis” app was created with a shared commitment to solving real-world problems, specifically the challenges farmers face with water management. With the agricultural world increasingly impacted by extreme weather conditions, unpredictable rainfall, pests, and diseases, farmers struggle to maintain crop health, secure their profits, and ensure food security. Gupta and Espinola used NASA’s openly accessible data to design a solution that helps farmers optimize their water usage in response to these environmental challenges.
“The app combines data science and real-world applications, helping farmers make informed decisions regarding water usage,” said Gupta. “We wanted to find a way to make a difference in the global effort for sustainability, especially when it comes to managing one of our most precious resources: water.”
NASA’s Space Apps Challenge encourages participants from all backgrounds—students, educators, scientists, and designers—to develop creative solutions to pressing issues like climate change, sustainability, and agriculture. Gupta and Espinola’s achievement highlights the importance of youth innovation and problem-solving in shaping a more sustainable future.
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“This app is a testament to the power of collaboration and forward-thinking,” said Espinola. “We’re proud to be able to contribute something meaningful to our community and the world at large.”
Their success at the NASA competition is a reflection of Tompkins High School's commitment to fostering creativity and critical thinking in its students. Gupta and Espinola’s accomplishment will no doubt inspire future generations of students to think beyond the classroom and tackle global challenges with the tools of innovation.
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a global event where coders, scientists, and designers collaborate to find solutions to real-world problems using open data provided by NASA. To learn more about the competition or to explore the projects created by participants, visit spaceappschallenge.org.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
