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Cedar Creek students advance to NJSBA Steam Tank regionals with food‑waste biofuel project
Summary
Three Cedar Creek High School environmental capstone students told the Greater Egg Harbor Regional board they will compete in the New Jersey School Boards Association Steam Tank Challenge with a project that converts food waste to ethanol biofuel using hydrolysis, fermentation and hydrothermal methods.
Three students from Cedar Creek High School told the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District board that their environmental capstone project — converting food waste into ethanol biofuel — won a place in the New Jersey School Boards Association Steam Tank Challenge and will advance to regionals in March.
Miss Martinelli, the students' environmental science teacher, introduced the team and its work. Student presenters Ava Yuland, Sonia Patel and Steven Flynn said the project aims to “efficiently produce biofuel from food waste to address the commonly faced issues of food insecurity and environmental degradation.” They described using hydrolysis and fermentation, enzyme treatments and planned hydrothermal autoclave tests to accelerate processing and improve yield.
The students said they spent the first four months researching feedstocks, enzymes and ethanol‑from‑cellulose procedures, ran initial tests on cellulose and grass clippings to learn protocols, and are now adapting those steps to mixed food waste. “We are running hydrolysis and fermentation tests utilizing food as our biomass,” one student said, adding the team plans additional experiments and mentor meetings ahead of the regional presentation.
Board members and staff praised the students' work during the meeting. A board member said it “warms my heart” to hear students present with enthusiasm, and encouraged the group to keep the board updated on the regional competition.
The students connected their work to broader concerns in their research, saying biofuel feedstock expansion in the Midwest has increased corporate farming and pressured small family farms — a line of inquiry two students explored further by attending an out‑of‑state forum.
The presenters told the board their participation has influenced college and career planning: one student said the project confirmed an interest in studying related fields after high school. The team said they will continue experiments and meetings as part of the capstone class and the Steam Tank Challenge preparation.
