In a room packed with over a hundred competitors, each with meticulously crafted dragsters, one model stood out—not just for its sleek design, but for the story behind it. Student Jack Garvin, turned a childhood fascination into a national success at just 14 years old. His story offers a glimpse into the heart of STEM competitions and shows how curiosity, determination, and creative problem-solving drive students to push the limits of what’s possible.
The Path From Wonder to Win
Jack Garvin from Leesburg, VA exuded confidence and passion as he posed with his prize-winning dragster: a sleek, black, 3D-printed model with a bullet-shaped casing on top for its CO₂ cartridge. The design was simple but built with intention.
“I noticed when I would watch the Pinewood Derby that the winning cars were always flat and streamlined. To design my dragster, I thought about creating something that could easily cut through air.”
Jack’s aerodynamic model represents years of curiosity and learning to balance creativity with science.
“He’s always been a STEM kid,” his mom, Sam, remarks. “He used to build puzzle boxes out of Legos and incorporate moving parts. I remember he would be so frustrated because he had such a big imagination and he didn’t understand why we couldn’t just manufacture parts as he envisioned them.”
Even at seven years old, Jack was thinking like an engineer, determined to make his mind’s creations tangible. Now, as he holds his 3D-printed dragster in his hands, he has a physical reminder of his belief in the what ifs of possibility and technology. To be a champion, Jack’s learned, his passion had to be stronger than his frustration.
Setbacks and Second Chances
Frustration is an enduring legacy of STEM. And it’s followed Jack all his life—from his childhood play area to the competition circuit. After being disqualified at the regional dragster event, the state association reassessed the decision and allowed Jack to compete on the state level. But it wasn't an instant victory from there.
“I placed 16th!” Jack says.
Luckily, he didn’t stop then. The fun of the competition left a greater impression than the pain of the loss. When he was signing up for the national TSA events—video game design and CAD (computer-aided design)—the chance to improve upon his previous dragster performance intrigued him.
“When he told me he wanted to do dragster again I was thinking, are you sure?” Jack’s mom recalls, recognizing what a huge commitment the competition was.
While Jack knew signing up would mean months of constant iteration—ideating, designing, testing, and recording the process—he saw an opportunity to finish what he started. The younger version of him, the one who watched maze design videos with awe as creators discussed the STEM behind problem solving, was taking the reins: it was his turn to win.
Jack honed what he knew and experimented to learn what he didn’t. Evaluating cause and effect, he determined that his dragster should be a hybrid design, featuring back wheels on the outside and front wheels on the inside to reduce drag.
“It took me about a month to design the dragster, then I had to print it, sand it, paint it, and assemble it.”
Except it wasn’t a one-time process. In these competitions, time is counted to the thousandth of a second. Every detail matters—and not everything goes according to plan.
“The car was printed underweight. I had to paint it multiple times to increase the mass, but it still wasn’t reaching 60 grams.”
Competition day was growing close, and Jack needed to have his dragster ready to submit.
“I remembered that brass is heavier than steel,” he says. “If I could replace the steel axles with brass ones, it could work.”
Jack’s heart was racing fast, giving his own dragster some competition. He hoped this was the solution that would help his model make weight. Pitsco overnighted the brass axles and Jack got to work. He checked the scale: 60.00 grams. Exactly the right amount.
The Real Value of STEM Competitions
On the day of the event, Jack was nervous. He’d only been in the TSA for two years—his middle school had only recently started a chapter—and there were over a hundred competitors. Some came from schools renowned for their STEM programs, with race tracks at home and years of experience.
One by one, everyone’s dragster raced. Jack watched with excited tension and fear of the worst as worthy opponents’ dragsters broke.
“The designs weren’t durable enough,” Jack explains, “but they didn’t know that until the actual event.”
Even as others’ dreams dissipated with the crash of their cars, they were supportive of Jack. Everyone was eager to win, but even more thrilled to be among people who shared the same interests and goals.
“I remember how I felt after my first TSA meeting. I thought this is it. It was what I wanted to do.”
The atmosphere of the 2025 National TSA Competition was filled with that same enthusiastic air. People were sharing tips, offering encouragement, and celebrating their opponents’ wins. For most participants, the event was about more than medals—it was about opportunity.
“A lot of times, what kids learn in school is theoretical,” Jack’s mom says.
Jack agrees. “This was a hands-on chance to practice doing what actual mechanical engineers do. We don’t get that enough in school. At these competitions, we don’t think about what we need to do to build and race a dragster; we actually build and race a dragster.”
In doing so, Jack discovered how his other interests—like CAD—intersected with the dragster competition.
“CAD has a lot of overlap with dragster,” Jack says. “I have to think about variables like materials, dimensions, and tolerances. Being familiar with these considerations helped me to be a smarter engineer for the dragster competition.”
Crafting Confidence Through Experience
TSA competitions deepen STEM learning by challenging students to think critically and creatively in hands-on, interest-driven projects. Whether they're engineering a dragster, developing a flight concept, creating fashion pieces, or inventing a board game, participants gain firsthand experience with the power of math, engineering, and design. With each challenge, they build practical skills—and uncover how STEM knowledge can set them apart as innovators.
Jack’s experience reveals what happens when hands-on learning moves beyond theory: students develop skills that textbooks alone can’t teach. The challenges, the late nights spent redesigning parts, and the thrill of seeing ideas come to life create a unique environment for growth. These competitions foster not only knowledge but the confidence to innovate and the grit to keep improving—qualities that prepare students for a future where creativity and STEM go hand in hand.