Cinco Ranch’s Adriana Zambrano-Moreno Places 8th in National STEM Competition

KATY, TX [August 26, 2025] – Adriana Zambrano-Moreno has been fascinated with technology and its applications for as long as she can remember. In July, her passion and planning led the Cinco Ranch High School student to national recognition and an eighth-place finish at the Technology Student Association (TSA) National Conference and Competition in Nashville, Tenn.

Zambrano-Moreno competed in the Future Technology & Engineering Teacher event and stood out among 10,000 students in attendance from across the United States and around the world, finishing in the Top 10 out of 200 category entries with her project on Artificial Intelligence.

To qualify, she had to create a lesson plan and present it to the judges as if she were the teacher of the course. This involved researching trends in technology, creating an original, interactive lesson and aligning the lesson to national science, math and technology standards. It was a lengthy process, but the work paid dividends.

“I would have never imagined that I would make it all the way to nationals when I first started brainstorming my lesson plan back in November of 2024,” Zambrano-Moreno said. “Becoming a finalist at the national level gave me an immense sense of satisfaction in the work I did, and being recognized was an incredible honor, but I think the journey itself and the growth I experienced along the way meant just as much.”

To reach the national Top 10, Zambrano-Moreno advanced through the first round with outstanding written and video submissions, then impressed judges in a live interview by sharing her process and expertise. She credits her advisors for helping on her journey. The team of Cinco Ranch teachers, Raf Villarreal, Shane Lalumandier, Kristin Rausch, Emily Gresham and Rachelle Ferguson, shared a collective statement of enthusiasm for her accomplishment.

“Adriana represented Cinco Ranch High School and Katy ISD with excellence at the National TSA Convention,” they said. “She explored what it takes to succeed as a future technology teacher and demonstrated her ability to deliver STEM skills and concepts. We are incredibly proud of her dedication, perseverance and Cougar Pride!”

Zambrano-Moreno’s passion for tech will continue after she graduates. She plans to pursue a double major in computer science and music to fuel her goal of having a successful career in software development.

“I have always been fascinated by technology and how it can be used to make a positive impact, but at the same time, music has always been a big part of my life,” Zambrano-Moreno said. “I hope to combine these two areas in ways that can help people and make the world a little better.”

Adriana Zambrano-Moreno (middle) represents Cinco Ranch High School and Katy ISD with 8th place finish at TSA National Competition.

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