St John’s College students make promising strides in the entrepreneurial world

St. John’s College Students Kali Selepe and Kheyan Vallabh were named Conrad Innovators of 2024 during the international Conrad Challenge.
The Challenge is a targeted innovation competition that trains the next generation of entrepreneurs who will make a difference in the world.

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Kali and Kheyan said it was an honor to be part of the challenge. “When we started this project last year, we had no idea that we would get this far. We were chosen through a rigorous selection process, where our project was reviewed by the Conrad jury in the US.”

Kali and Kheyan’s project, TransMerc, is an advanced train system.

“TransMerc is focused on developing a magnetically powered train system that uniquely uses quantum-locking technology. We have designed a train that levitates,” Kheyan said.
Kali noted that their idea gained credibility when they consulted with professors and students at the University of the Witwatersrand. “We hope to work with them further on our project,” Kali said.

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“We are also grateful for the encouragement of our teachers, mentors and friends, who have played an important role in shaping our success and instilling in us the values ​​of excellence and perseverance.”

The students credit their achievement to the valuable guidance of their teachers, Sean Morrow and Dr. Alistair Douglas.
“As we look back on this achievement, we are filled with hope and possibility. The Conrad Challenge has ignited a passion in us to continue pushing the boundaries of science and innovation, and we are excited to see where our journeys will take us,” Kali concluded.