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Yorktown Middle School Students Named Nautical Engineers
Two MESMS students in Yorktown won national Garfield award for their STEM (science and technology) project.
Yorktown Heights, NY, June 26, 2017 -- Two 7th Graders at Mildred E. Strang Middle School won a national contest using a 3D printing program to solve a problem and design a specialized boat. Their solution, a sturdy boat-like vessel, will be featured on an educational technology website.
The Sail Away Challenge asked students to design a 3D printed boat that could hold 5 marbles and stay afloat during a 26-inch journey.
Lindsay Daubman, 13, and Scarlett Silvestro, 12, who were teamed together, came up with the best solution in the Nautical Design category, according to sponsors of the Professor Garfield and Makers Empire 3D STEM Competition. There were more than 200 entries throughout the country.
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The students talked about their project during a Good News presentation to the Board of Education this winter. On June 23 they received their certificate and prizes, and were honored during an award ceremony with others at Mildred E. Strang Middle School.
The problem was described in this way: “Garfield needs a 3D printed boat that will hold 5 marbles and stay afloat for 26’’ in as short a time as possible (using a fan). He wanted to travel to a remote tropical island for some of the world’s sweetest tomatoes for his lasagna sauce.”
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Lindsay came up with the shape of the boat that resembles a pontoon boat which is long and narrow. Scarlett realized that the five marbles (used to approximate the weight and shape of tomatoes), would be evenly distributed if two were housed on each side of the boat and one placed in the bow.
For Lindsay and Scarlett it was their first 3D creation.
“It was fun to do and we’d like to do more,” said Scarlett.
Their teachers in this Technology Education Class are Sue Sniffen and Matthew Ladka.
The idea of the competition is to enhance students understanding and mastery of design thinking. Makers Empire has created 3D printing software especially designed for K-10 classrooms.
For their win, the girls each received a signed poster by Garfield the Cat creator-illustrator Jim Davis and Garfield T-shirts. And they will be featured on the Professor Garfield and Makers Empire websites, too.
The two students shown here with their teachers prize certificates and the (pink) boat.
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Photo:From left to right: Teacher Sue Sniffen, 7th Grade students Scarlett Silvestro and Lindsay Daubman, Teacher Matthew Ladka.
