Westlake Senior A Finalist For 'Thor: Ragnarok' STEM Contest

WESTLAKE, OH — Math and science can make superheroes of anyone. Just ask Westlake High School senior Jill Eddy who is one of five national finalists in Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok Superpower of STEM challenge.

To become a finalist, Eddy had to create her own, original STEM project. The Westlake senior's undertaking was simple: create a build-it-yourself bicycle anchor. Eddy's design allows bike riders to lock their ride up, using a build-it-yourself bike anchor. The design allows bike riders to secure their rides even in places that don't have bike racks. She created a 3D rendering of the bike lock and then created a production set for the contest.

The project was good enough that Eddy was one of five students selected to visit Los Angeles and present their projects, in person, to a panel of experts. Plus, the students got to take part in the red carpet premier of Marvel Studios' "Thor: Ragnarok."

“I couldn’t be more grateful to Marvel, Dolby Studios, the American Association of the Advancement of Science, and Synchrony Bank for giving me and the other finalists such an incredibly unique and memorable experience," Eddy told Patch in an email. "We all learned so much about how to be proficient in and dedicated to our work in STEM.”

The five national finalists, including Eddy, also got a behind-the-scenes peek at the technology in Dolby Laboratories, a tour of Walt Disney Studios in California and attended an Ideation session with the Synchrony Bank Technology Team.

Eddy learned about the contest through Scott Kutz, a Westlake High technology and engineering teacher. Kutz also runs the school's award-decorated Techmates Club. Eddy credited Kutz, and WHS Technology and Engineering Teacher Adam Purdy and Lee Burneson Middle School Technology and Engineering Teacher Kurt Thonnings, for supporting her interests in tech.

“Jillian has been in several of my classes for all four years of high school, and I can tell you that one of the great discoveries she has made, starting in the level one Tech Design class, is learning she has the uncanny ability to perfectly visualize three dimensional objects and sketch them out. Now, after developing this skill over four years, she is able to dream it, draw it, model it (on the computer with CAD), and then create a working prototype of her ideas," Kutz told Patch in an email. "That’s precisely how she did such outstanding work for the Superpower of STEM contest!”

This is the second major STEM award Eddy has earned during his tenure as a Westlake High student. Last year, she was part of the high school's Best in State and Best in Region Verizon App Challenge team. That squad designed the Alert-U app, which tracks threats with an interactive map that users can both drop pins on and read in real time. Eddy is also part of the technology programs at Westlake High and Hyland Softward.

Outside of STEM interests, Eddy has won several art awards and designed last year's WHS yearbook cover. She's also part of the Symphonic Band and Marching Band. She also teaches learn-to-skate lessons and is part of the St. Angela's Youth Group.

She said she wants to major in design and engineering in college.

Sadly, Eddy didn't win the grand prize. That went to a student from Oregon. That student will head to a three-day mentorship in New York City to build her STEM project, create a video telling others about her project and will then appear on Good Morning America.

The contest was open to girls ages 15-18 in grades 10-12.

Photos from Westlake Schools