How a Train Derailment Inspired a Young Engineer's Award-Winning Research
By Justin Powers
Growing up in East Palestine with my sisters, Jenifer and Juliette, problem-solving was woven into the fabric of our childhood. Our parents instilled in us a simple yet powerful principle: never miss an opportunity to learn, no matter how tragic a situation may be. This mindset, coupled with our years in Odyssey of the Mind competitions that honed our critical thinking skills, shaped who we became and now guides the work of the memorial fund bearing my sister's name.
When a devastating train derailment struck my hometown of East Palestine in February 2023, I witnessed how that same principle of finding learning opportunities amidst tragedy was being carried forward by a remarkable young man 1,500 miles away in La Joya, Texas.
Fourteen-year-old Gary Allen Montelongo was completing an internship at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Transportation Center for Railway Safety when news of the disaster broke.
"I was shocked at first," Gary recalled. But soon, our entire cohort was discussing what could have caused it, with a particular focus on the railroad's suspension system.
This moment sparked a journey that recently culminated in Gary winning the prestigious Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, taking home a $10,000 prize for his innovative research on train suspension systems.
From Coding Classes to National Recognition
When I asked Gary about his beginnings in STEM, his story reminded me of how my sisters and I discovered our educational passions early on.
"I started learning to code in 2nd grade in a Gifted and Talented class," he explained. "Helping my mom with her coding classes sparked my interest in engineering and motivated me to explore technology early on."
That early exposure to coding laid the foundation for what would become an impressive trajectory in STEM. By age 14, Gary had already become a two-time winner of the Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award – first for "Intruder Alert," a system designed to remotely lock classroom doors in the event of a school shooting, and then for his groundbreaking research on railway safety.
From Disaster to Discovery
What struck me most in our conversation was how Gary responded to the East Palestine derailment. He was uniquely positioned to understand its implications through his internship.
"My mentor at the university got called in to help determine the cause of the derailment," he told me. "We were all watching as he gathered data to help the community. My internship ended before they determined what caused it, so I took it upon myself to come up with possibilities."
After his internship concluded, Gary couldn't shake his curiosity about the derailment. He began visiting train tracks near his home, paying special attention to the suspension systems.
"I noticed some of the springs were brand new, while others were old and rusty with visibly less space between each coil," Gary explained. This observation became the foundation for his award-winning research.
This approach – turning tragedy into a learning opportunity – resonated deeply with me. It's precisely what my parents taught us growing up in East Palestine, and what we try to honor through Jen's memorial fund.
Building a Model for Rail Safety
Drawing on coding skills he'd been developing since age 8, Gary built and coded his own accelerometer to measure vibration. He then constructed three sets of model railroad tracks, each fitted with different types of springs: new, mid-life, and worn-out.
"All the springs that were completely worn out were really bouncy and shaky," he explained. "Those caused a lot of derailments, especially when the train was carrying uneven weight."
His findings have significant real-world implications for rail safety, particularly in communities like my hometown, which sit along major rail corridors. Later investigation found that a defective wheel bearing, part of the suspension system, caused the Ohio derailment, validating the direction of Gary's research.
The Role of Support Systems
When I asked Gary about his support system, his answer highlighted something I know all too well – behind every young innovator stands people who believe in their potential.
"My mom has been my biggest supporter, guiding me through coding projects and science experiments, and always encouraging me to aim high," he shared.
I can relate. My sisters and I were fortunate to have parents who encouraged our curiosity and participation in programs like Odyssey of the Mind, which fostered the very skills Gary is now utilizing in his research.
When I asked how organizations like our Jenifer R. Powers Fruit Memorial Fund can better support students in developing STEM interests, Gary emphasized accessibility: "By offering more scholarships, STEM programs, and providing equipment for hands-on learning, they can make STEM more accessible to all students."
His insight reinforces the importance of our work supporting programs like the East Palestine Robotics Program. The program's head coach, Dan Kibler, who also served as a volunteer firefighter during the derailment, has been instrumental in building a culture of innovation in the very community affected by the disaster that inspired Gary's research.
Looking to the Stars
Now in his first year of high school, Gary balances his academic pursuits with playing football and dreaming of a future in aerospace engineering.
"What I really want to do is design the spaceships that go up to space," he told me with enthusiasm. "The idea of working on rockets and exploring space really excites me; it's been my dream to one day launch something to the moon."
His ambition echoes the spirit of President Kennedy's famous 1962 Rice University address that I had shared during the welcome ceremony at EP's inaugural Robotics Tournament. Just as JFK declared we choose to go to the Moon "not because it is easy, but because it is hard," Gary seems drawn to aerospace engineering precisely because of its challenges and the frontiers it pushes.
His experience as a finalist in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge has only strengthened this ambition. "It gave me confidence in my abilities and solidified my goal to pursue engineering, especially aerospace.”
Advice for Future Innovators
To younger students interested in STEM, Gary offers this advice: "Stay curious, start exploring, and don't be afraid to try things out—STEM is all about learning through experiments and challenges."
His journey exemplifies what we at the Jenifer R. Powers Fruit Memorial Fund often describe as "the long game" of innovative careers. As Dan Kibler noted in our previous conversations about robotics education, "Developing the next generation of innovators is definitely a long game. It requires buy-in from educators, students, and family members, as well as strong community and ecosystem support.
Gary's story demonstrates how early exposure to STEM, combined with supportive mentors and opportunities to apply learning to real-world problems, can set students on a path toward impactful innovation – whether that's improving railway safety or reaching for the stars.
As we prepare for our annual Jen and Tonic Polo event on August 16, 2025, at the Paul J. Powers Memorial Polo Field, stories like Gary's remind me why the work we do to support STEM and robotics education matters. By fostering the same curiosity and problem-solving mindset that my sisters and I developed in East Palestine years ago, we're helping to build the next generation of problem-solvers who will tackle the challenges of tomorrow – and perhaps find valuable lessons even in life's most challenging moments.
For more information about the Jen and Tonic Polo event and how you can support STEM education initiatives in our community, visit www.steelvalleyinnovate.org.