St. Mark's students excel in STEM Inventor's Challenge
May 02, 2018
Middle school students at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Palm Beach Gardens participated in the STEM Inventor’s Challenge on Saturday, April 21, 2018, sponsored by the South Florida Science Center. Through funding from the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, schools were given a 3D printer and challenged their students to invent a solution to solve a problem within their schools or communities.
In October 2017, students began meeting to brainstorm and identify problems to solve. They were assigned three mini-challenges and one main challenge. The initial mini-challenges provided students with the framework to better understand the engineering design process and prepare them for the main invention challenge to solve a real world problem. These mini-challenges included a keychain design, a classroom invention, and a penny boat.
Rapid prototyping with 3D printing was an effective way for the young inventors to turn their ideas into physical prototypes. They also made videos to share their invention with others. Students were inspired through the process by St. Mark’s faculty advisors: Amanda Jasper, Sally Lubeck, Melanie Perkins, and Michael Milanesi.
Ten schools competed in the Stiles-Nicholson STEM Inventor’s Challenge at the South Florida Science Center with a submission of 30 inventions. Out of a total of seven awards, St. Mark’s won 1st place for the Best Presentation Board, and in the Main Challenge competition, which awarded three places, St. Mark’s won the 1st and 2nd place awards. “We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our students and faculty advisors,” commented Deborah Strainge, St. Mark’s Head of School. “By creating a culture of collaboration and innovation, we are equipping our students as 21st century learners.”
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the challenge and received an award: Award for Best Display Board for “Drone Pollinator” - Ben Lubeck, Andrew D’Souza, and Dylan Clarke; 1st Place Main Challenge Award for “Hurricane Proof Privacy Fence” - Wesley Wheat, Will LaBanz, Spencer Miller, and Carson Krul; and 2nd Place Main Challenge Award for “DeKleat (Removable shoe tread cleat covers)” - Madelyn Popilek, Zoe Arzt, and Jacob Heilpern. We also recognize Sebastian Mastin, Natalie Ryder, Scythe Shephard, and Ben Whitfield for their contributions to the Inventor’s Challenge.
St. Mark’s provides academically enriched programs in a nurturing Christian environment for children ages 2 through 8th grade. For information about St. Mark’s School, call 561-622-1504 or visit www.stmarkspbg.org. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/stmarkslionspbg.
In October 2017, students began meeting to brainstorm and identify problems to solve. They were assigned three mini-challenges and one main challenge. The initial mini-challenges provided students with the framework to better understand the engineering design process and prepare them for the main invention challenge to solve a real world problem. These mini-challenges included a keychain design, a classroom invention, and a penny boat.
Rapid prototyping with 3D printing was an effective way for the young inventors to turn their ideas into physical prototypes. They also made videos to share their invention with others. Students were inspired through the process by St. Mark’s faculty advisors: Amanda Jasper, Sally Lubeck, Melanie Perkins, and Michael Milanesi.
Ten schools competed in the Stiles-Nicholson STEM Inventor’s Challenge at the South Florida Science Center with a submission of 30 inventions. Out of a total of seven awards, St. Mark’s won 1st place for the Best Presentation Board, and in the Main Challenge competition, which awarded three places, St. Mark’s won the 1st and 2nd place awards. “We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our students and faculty advisors,” commented Deborah Strainge, St. Mark’s Head of School. “By creating a culture of collaboration and innovation, we are equipping our students as 21st century learners.”
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the challenge and received an award: Award for Best Display Board for “Drone Pollinator” - Ben Lubeck, Andrew D’Souza, and Dylan Clarke; 1st Place Main Challenge Award for “Hurricane Proof Privacy Fence” - Wesley Wheat, Will LaBanz, Spencer Miller, and Carson Krul; and 2nd Place Main Challenge Award for “DeKleat (Removable shoe tread cleat covers)” - Madelyn Popilek, Zoe Arzt, and Jacob Heilpern. We also recognize Sebastian Mastin, Natalie Ryder, Scythe Shephard, and Ben Whitfield for their contributions to the Inventor’s Challenge.
St. Mark’s provides academically enriched programs in a nurturing Christian environment for children ages 2 through 8th grade. For information about St. Mark’s School, call 561-622-1504 or visit www.stmarkspbg.org. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/stmarkslionspbg.
Contact:
Kelee Shilling, Communications Coordinator
kshilling@stmarkspbg.org, (561) 622-1504
