CCSD Middle School Students Compete In STEM Contest

Press release from CCSD:

March 30, 2023

Cherokee County School District middle schoolers recently tested their STEM knowledge through a countywide competition.

The annual local Georgia Association of Water Professionals’ Model Water Tower Competition, presented by the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, gives CCSD seventh-graders the opportunity to plan, design and build a water tower.

Forty-two towers were entered in the competition -- six from each middle school, and Woodstock Middle School swept the top rankings! Its teams won first, second and third place, and the first- and second-place winners now advance to the state competition next month.

The “Viva Mexico” entry, created by Jake Cerna, Anthony Lizardo and Divar Marcos Perez, earned first place and a $300 prize for Woodstock MS. The “Star Trek” tower, crafted by Ashton Cole, Aiden Flanigan, Adrian Jones and Uriah Newman, won second place and a $200 prize. The “Clown” entry, designed by Jade Blake, Zoe Hill, Zaelle Joseph and Maddy Marquez, placed third and netted a $100 prize. All three teams were coached by Woodstock MS STEM teacher Stephanie Vidrine.

“This is an awesome project for our students: they learn about new STEM concepts, put them into practice through a hands-on project and then have the opportunity to earn accolades for their hard work,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “Congratulations to Woodstock Middle School, its winning teams and their fantastic STEM teacher, Ms. Vidrine. Thank you to the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority and all of the teachers and project mentors who made this valuable experience possible for our students.”

This school year, CCSD middle school STEM teachers implemented the tower project into their seventh-grade, third-quarter classes. Water professionals visited the classes to teach students about tower design, structure and functionality. The towers entered into the countywide competition were evaluated by industry professionals, who also interviewed the students. Students participated in STEM activities between presentations.

Additional awarded presented at the contest:

• Best Engineered Design: of E.T. Booth MS, Miriam Ndumbi, Madelyn Pearigan, Sofia Zayas-Bazan and teacher Kara Reeder for “Botanical Bliss”
• Best Presentation: of E.T. Booth MS, Elizabeth Findley, Liza Johnson, Chloe Okoth, Makyla Ray and teacher Kara Reeder for “Butterfly-topia”
• Cost Effectiveness: of Freedom MS, Kylah Beard, Natalie Gmyrek, Bella Linginger and teacher Todd Mickler for “Circus”
• Most Artistic: of E.T. Booth MS, Camilla Castillo, Lena Chang, Aniyah Miller, Malaya White and teacher Kara Reeder for “Queen of Hearts”
• Structural Excellence: of Creekland MS, Chase McKenzie, Bennett Simpson and teacher Connie Garrison for “The Earth”; and of E.T. Booth MS, Danna Barreto Gonzalez, Abby Guleksen, Ivey Langat, Karsyn Tuupo and teacher Kara Reeder for “Majestic Butterfly Garden”
• Think Outside the Box: of Freedom MS, Jack Sanders and teacher Todd Mickler for “CCWSA”

This press release was produced by CCSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.