Worcester Teen Wins National STEM Champion Title
Seventh grader Jason Chang built a motor-free solar tracker for under $25 and is developing an all-weather version.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Jason Chang, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Worcester Academy, earned the National STEM Champion title for a motor-free solar tracker he built for less than $25. The device uses a water-driven seesaw-like structure that tilts a solar panel to follow the sun.
Why it matters
Chang's prototype produced roughly 20% higher solar panel voltage than a stationary panel during outdoor testing, showing that low-cost mechanisms can improve solar output. The project is aimed at more durable designs that can operate through New England winters.
The prototype was built from recycled, low-cost supplies for less than $25 and was tested outdoors against a stationary solar panel. Testing showed roughly 20% higher voltage, but the source does not address long-term durability.
The players
Jason Chang
A 13-year-old seventh grader at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts who built the motor-free solar tracker.
Worcester Academy
The Worcester, Massachusetts school that Jason Chang attends as a seventh grader.
The details
The tracker pulls a stopper that releases water from an upper reservoir into a hanging bucket, and the bucket's increasing weight gradually tilts the panel toward the sun. The idea grew from repositioning holiday decorations in cold weather at his mother's request, and getting the speed right took over a year of experimentation.
Timeline
Over a year of experimentation preceded the award.
November 6, 2026: Article reporting the STEM Champion title was published.
Culture Shift
Chang's project reflects a growing interest among young inventors in reusing household materials for low-cost engineering solutions. Its water-weight mechanism departs from the motorized single-axis solar trackers commonly used in commercial installations.
Worcester families and educators can see a local seventh grader earn national recognition for hands-on STEM work. The project also shows students that everyday materials and household problems can become serious engineering projects.
The takeaway
Chang's project shows that persistence over more than a year of testing can turn a household chore into a working engineering prototype. Students can apply the same approach by starting with a simple problem and iterating on low-cost materials.
What happens next
Chang plans to present his project at Washington, D.C.'s National STEM Festival, and is developing an all-weather version of the tracker.
Further reading
Explore more student science achievements in Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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