During the past two months, students from the Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS) have won awards in four competitions focusing on science, technology, math and engineering education, or STEM.
Middle schoolers competing in the Pennsylvania eCYBERMISSION, the Charles Drew Science Fair, the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair and the Pittsburgh Regional Future Cities Competition, took home a total of six awards for projects focusing on sustainable energy, city planning and transportation.
Students Curt Tomco, Jason Bottoms and Reonna Durham won second prize in Pennsylvania for their submission to eCYBERMISSION, a free online STEM competition for students in grades six through nine sponsored by the U.S. Army. Their team, 7th Grade Allstars, developed a solution to the challenge of producing renewable energy in Pittsburgh. It is the school’s second year participating in the contest.
At the Pittsburgh Regional Future Cities Competition, MACS students won an award for Best Housing Development and Layout (sponsored by The Society of Women Engineers) Society of Women Engineers). In Future Cities, teams create a city of the future that includes residential, commercial and industrial space, power sources and transportation and communication systems, and also addresses issues such as pollution, taxes, and budgets. The students showcased their design with a virtual rendering, a physical model made of recycled materials, a written report and a verbal presentation to judges at the competition.
Five MACS students also received recognition at the 30th Annual Charles Drew Science Fair, which took place at Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Seventh grader Noah Fitzpatrick won first place in his grade and also received two awards at the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair on March 30, 2012.
The Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS) is a Member of Schools That Can and a nationally recognized, Blue Ribbon school serving grades kindergarten to eight at a community-centered facility on Pittsburgh’s Northside. As one of the region’s oldest independent charter schools, we are committed to providing children of all backgrounds with a superior education in preparation for success in high school, college and beyond.