Residences at Vantage Point Hosts Second Big Idea Competition to Encourage Innovation by Young People

The first-place winners of the 2025 Big Idea Competition received $2,000 to move forward with their pitch titled “Game Changer: Engineering an Inclusive Game for All” during Residences at Vantage Point’s second Big Idea Competition.

The competition, based in part on the television show Shark Tank, was launched last year by Dr. Douglas Edsall and other residents of the Downtown Columbia retirement community who hoped to encourage high school students to find innovative solutions to modern problems.

Students were asked to team up to create or generate an idea, concept, service, solution, or initiative that focuses on community needs through scientific, technological, or social strategies. Some of the critical issues highlighted address topics such as cyber technology and security, clean water, air, and energy, health, nutrition, sustainability, and education.

Eight teams entered and the top four were chosen by a panel of residents to present their project in person. Following their presentations, first through fourth place teams received cash prizes to continue working on their projects.

The winning team, comprising Cheren Song, Jonathan Ye, Neil Chibber, Tam Vo, and Ife Adeleye from Reservoir High School and their sponsor Katherine Yienger, came together with the goal of producing low-cost, easy-use, adaptive game console controllers geared towards those with disabilities or limited dexterity. The students researched competing products and their downsides – including complicated set up and limited compatibility – and conducted interviews with paraeducators and students to inform their design. Through a 3-D printed physical controller and a Python-coded connected app, the team has been building a prototype and plans to work with their local contacts to test their product.

Coming in second place from Mount Hebron High School are Isha Ande, Ahana Roy, Tanvi Anand, Katherine Zheng, and Srisha Rangini who presented the “Menstrual Pilot Program in Howard County” with their sponsor Michelle Dubreuil. Winning $1,500 to move forward with their initiative, the team aims to remove unnecessary boundaries to menstrual products in Howard County public buildings by removing coin-operated dispensers, in an increasingly cash-free world, and ensuring free access for all. The team is looking to launch a three-month pilot program to gather data on the feasibility of a full county roll-out.

Also from Mount Hebron High School, the two-person team of Yashika Reddy and Joe Phelps, sponsored by Melissa Kiehl, received $1,000 and third place with their pitch titled “Dermalock: Integrating Safety with Reliability.” Their project is aimed at reducing drunk driving by using a transdermal device that measures blood alcohol content through the skin and transmits the reading to a car’s engine control unit. This would end reliance on breath-based ignition devices, that are often unreliable, or other invasive procedures. The team has developed a prototype which they plan to improve upon through testing and bring to target audiences like DUI prevention groups and insurance companies.

And finally, $500 in winnings and fourth place went to Dev “Dave” Gadhia, a team of one, from Marriotts Ridge High School. The project, sponsored by Jodi Dubbs, is titled “Clean CritAir Small Pet Habitats: Helping Pet Owners and their Families with Asthma and Allergies Breathe Easier” and is a clear glass terrarium engineered for small pets with a customized MERV Air Filter to prevent dirt, dust, waste, and dander from contaminating the air. The team already has a prototype, competitor research, and a thorough retail plan to move forward with commercializing the product.

The students presented their projects to a panel of five judges, all of whom are residents at Vantage Point:

• Geraldine “Gerrie” Garrett spent her career at the Department of Defense as a Senior Executive where she received the Exceptional Civilian Service Award and spent her free time as a volunteer with the Howard County Adult Literacy program.
• Jim McFadden’s career spanned more than 40 years as a Government Contractor for the Department of Defense. After retirement, he completed training to receive certification as a Maryland Master Naturalist and now spends his time volunteering with several environmental organizations.
• Carol McGinnis worked as a special education teacher in Prince George’s County focusing on infants and toddlers and was also a School Technology Coordinator, leading the initial introduction of computers for staff.
• Fred Peacock spent his career as an economist for the Montgomery County Maryland Planning Department and has been an oil painter for 25 years with paintings on display at Residences at Vantage Point.
• David Vasholz received his PhD in physics from the University of Wisconsin and worked in the Universities of Arizona and Florida and the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory before he was hired by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory where he spent more than 30 years on the principal professional staff.

Residences at Vantage Point was founded in 1990 and is a nonprofit serving people aged 60 and above. Managed by Life Care Services, the community includes a variety of residential living arrangements from studio to two-bedroom deluxe apartments. It provides long-term health services available exclusively for residents should they need them.

Residences at Vantage Point is noted for its arts, cultural ,and educational activities, as well as for resident engagement with the larger community of Columbia. It is located at 5400 Vantage Point Road. Visit www.VantagePointResidences.org for more information.