Local Students Compete in the SECME/STEM Olympiad

April 22, 2015 • By Sharon Aron Baron

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[caption id="attachment_11382" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] A bridge designed by members of the Stoneman Douglas SECME Team about to undergo a stress test by the judge.[/caption]

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By: Sharon Aron Baron

Students from local Broward County Schools gathered last weekend for a fun interactive technology competition combining student teams which resulted in one middle school team who will be traveling to a national competition.

Students including those from Coral Springs and Parkland participated in the SECME – STEM Olympiad at JP Taravella High School on Saturday, which combines building and racing specially designed “Mousetrap Cars,” building durable bridges, testing their skills at building water rockets out of two-liter bottles, competing in robotics hand and VEX robotic games competitions, and taking part in an FPL generator builds. They also created essay's, artwork and other projects.

[caption id="attachment_11393" align="alignright" width="350"] Ramblewood Middle School[/caption]

SECME which stands for Science Engineering and Communications For Mathematic Enhancement is a strategic alliance to renew and strengthen the professional capacity of K-12 educators, motivate and mentor students, and empower parents so that all students can learn and achieve at higher levels. STEM is a Nationwide initiative which focuses on Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics.

According to BCPS Science Curriculum Supervisor Dr. Lisa Milenkovic, the first place essays, water rocket, and elementary mousetrap car scores have been sent to National for further competition. Milenkovic has confirmed that Westglades Middle School along with American Heritage High School will be traveling to National SECME competition at the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa on June 24-25 for their mousetrap vehicle teams.

Here are the results of local schools:

Essays

[caption id="attachment_11385" align="alignright" width="350"] Ramblewood Elementary School[/caption]

Sophia Viner from Westglades received 1st place
Laura C. from Ramblewood Middle received 2nd place

Banners

Riverglades Elementary tied for 3rd place for the banner contest
Westglades Middle School earned 1st place for the banner contest
Marjory Stoneman Douglas earned 2nd place for the banner contest

Posters

[caption id="attachment_11388" align="alignright" width="350"] Maplewood Elementary School[/caption]

Westglades earned 2nd place in the poster contest
Coral Springs Middle earned 3rd place for the poster contest

Water Rocket

Westglades earned 1st place and 3rd place for their water rocket

FPL Generator
Ramblewood Middle earned 1st place for their FPL Generator
Westglades earned 2nd place for their FPL Generator

[caption id="attachment_11387" align="alignright" width="350"] JP Taravella[/caption]

Bridge

Ramblewood Middle (junior raiders) earned 1st place for their Bridge
Ramblewood Middle Raiders earned 2nd place for their Bridge
Westglades Middle WMS JCK earned 3rd place for their Bridge

Vex Robotics

JP Taravella earned 1st and 2nd Place for their Ultimate Software Vex Robotics

Mousetrap

[caption id="attachment_11389" align="alignright" width="350"] Marjory Stoneman Douglas[/caption]

Westglades Middle WMS SAS earned 1st Place for their Mousetrap
Stoneman Douglas earned 2nd place for their Mousetrap

Overall

Middle School
First place: Westglades Middle School
Second Place: Ramblewood Middle School
High School
Third Place: Stoneman Douglas

Author Profile

Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.