13 Area Student Problem Solvers Earn International Recognition

Thirteen students from Norcross High School, Pinckneyville Middle School and Simpson Elementary School represented the State of Georgia at the Future Problem Solving International Conference in at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, held June 12-15, 2014.

The International Conference featured four days of stimulating competitive problem solving, cooperative educational seminars, and social activities. More than 2,000 students and coaches attended the FPS International Conference. Top problem solvers from 40 states and 16 countries were in attendance.

Michelle Fisher, a rising Senior at Norcross High School, was named Grand Champion of the Senior Division Global Issues Individual Competition with her 1st place finish.

Elizabeth Waid, a rising Senior at Norcross High School, placed first for Scenario Writing in the Senior Division. She was honored to read her award winning selection at the conference. Along with her team members, Julien Gelly, Sarah Hensey and Claire Della Mahon, she also placed 10th in the Senior Division for Global Issues Problem Solving.

Neha Patel, Jennifer Wang, and Caitlin Yang, rising 10th graders at Norcross High School and Dhaivat Mehta, a recent graduate of Pinckneyville Middle School took home 2nd Place honors in the Senior Division for Global Issues Problem Solving.

Lindsay Rogers, a recent graduate of Pinckneyville Middel School, placed 2nd in Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Problem Solving, Middle Division with her 3 assigned teammates.

Jessica Cmiel, a recent graduate of Picnckneyville Middle School, placed 7th in the Middle Division Global Issues Individual Competition.

Diane Fisher, a resident of Peachtree Corners, placed 2nd in Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Problem Solving, Adult Division with her 3 assigned teammates from different states/counties.

Also competing were Grace Lombardo, a recent graduate of Simpson Elementary School, who represented GA in the Junior Division Global Issues Individual Competition. Matthew Chen, a rising Senior at Norcross High School, competed in the Senior Division of Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Problem Solving.

These Future Problem Solvers research real world concerns (the topic for the International Competition was Space) and apply a rigorous a 6 step problem solving process to explore challenges and propose action plans to complex societal problems. Additionally they prepare a creative and entertaining presentation to explain the action plan generated by the team during the written problem solving competition.

— Submitted article

(Photo: Image via shutterstock)