Racing to nationals

NEW LONDON — New London's middle and elementary school students put the sun to work during a STEM event. The district sent two teams of students ranging from fifth to seventh grade to Nashville for the Junior Solar Sprint competition. Students were tasked with building the fastest and most creative solar-powered car. Some of the participating students earned a top 10 ranking against a field of competitors from across the U.S. in the national event. The teams are: • The Preppy Bears: Mia Mobberly, Emma Clarke and Blair Parcher • The Baby Goats: Brooke Wuensch, Hillary Brownell and Zachary Brownell First stop: regionals The teams' advisor and retired teacher at the district, Terrie Chase, explained how preparation for the competition worked. Students had to build their cars and make them as fast as possible. They had to use a specific motor, solar panel, batteries and a switch to go from battery to solar power. Everything else is up to creativity, but teams were encouraged to use recycled or repurposed materials. Chase said the teams first had to compete at the regional level before nationals. They competed against teams from Wellington, Mapleton, Black River, Northwestern, Akron, Youngstown and Warrensville Heights school districts. In total, 33 teams competed. Teams race against each other in a double-elimination bracket. The top three teams won an all-expenses-paid scholarship to attend the national competition. New London's Preppy Bears took first place in the regional competition and The Baby Goats got fourth. One of the teams that placed higher than The Baby Goats decided not to attend nationals, so they had the opportunity to go. Hard work paid off Chase said the teams' results from the regional competition showed their hard work paid off, but it was just the beginning. The next step was for the teams to send a portfolio of their project logs, scaled drawings, research and an explanation of their design process. Teams also had to make a display for their cars at the competition. Along with the excitement of making it to the next competition, Chase said the trip also brought several first-time experiences for some of the students. Some had never been on a plane, picked up in a shuttle or stayed in a large convention center. The national competition was hosted during the annual National Technology Student Association conference and administered by the association and the Army Educational Outreach Program. Chase said there are close to 100 competitions hosted every year, including debate, story design, drones, website design, flight and solar cars, to name a few. "It was such an amazing experience for them to be part of thousands of students, grades 5-12, coming together for various competitions," Chase said. Chase said it was an amazing experience for her students and she was grateful for the students' family members who could attend and help. New London Middle School's principal, Susan Albaugh, said this opportunity is something to be proud of. "We are so pleased and proud of our Wildcats who had the opportunity to compete in the national Junior Solar Sprint Car Competition," Albaugh said. "STEM-based activities like this allow students to work as a team while problem-solving and thinking critically. The fact that our teams had the chance to travel to Nashville for the National Competition is amazing." The student's memories will last a lifetime, according to Albaugh. She also thanked the team's advisor for sharing what she knows and loves about STEM with students. The national competition was put on in stages. Each team first raced their cars to see how fast they could go. Out of the 90 competitors, the top 16 times were taken to the next stage. Next, the top cars raced against each other in a double-elimination bracket. The teams also participated in an interview about their car and the building process and a judging of their car. The results decided the top 10 teams, who were recognized at an awards ceremony. Final results The Preppy Bears walked away with an impressive title after the national competition. The fifth-grade students took ninth place, putting them in the Top Ten. Elementary principal Jennifer Yost described the students' placement as a tremendous honor for the school and community. "I'm so proud of our students and grateful for Mrs. Chase's leadership and commitment to our students," Yost said. "Knowing that our elementary school team placed ninth in the nation after competing regionally and traveling all the way to Nashville is truly inspiring. Their success highlights their determination and ability to rise to a challenge. It shows what our students are capable of when given the opportunity to innovate and persevere." Competing in this competition was "no small feat," Yost said. She said it took creativity, teamwork and technical skills. "To see our students not only represent our region but also place ninth in the nation shows how bright their future is, and it inspires all of us to keep investing in STEM education and hands-on learning," Yost said. This program is a joy to provide, in Chase's opinion. She said the students she works with might not be interested in athletics or scholarly groups or have the best social skills, but in this hands-on project, they thrive. Chase said she writes grants for funding and supplies, so there is no cost for those who participate. She said many teams come back year after year. STEM — which stands for science, technology, engineering and math — and STEAM — short for science, technology, engineering, art and math — are important lessons to learn, according to Chase. "By participating in STEM activities, students learn skills they will use their whole lives, like brainstorming ideas with others, collaborating and working in a group, coming up with solutions to problems that come up during building, realizing that just because something doesn't work, it doesn't mean they failed, and discovering that hard work really does pay off," Chase said. "Students of every age need these skills to become productive adults in whatever field they happen to choose later in life."