Middle School Gifted Education Facilitators Debbie Pellington (left) and Lisa Huelskamp (right), along with Westerville City Schools Superintendent John Kellogg, sort through district entries
Sixth grade students from advanced science classes in the Westerville City School District took part in the ninth annual Chip Challenge, a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiative. Teams were asked to design and test a container for shipping a single Pringles potato chip to the Early Learning Center. Upon arrival, the packages and the chip they contained were evaluated and scored. The goal was to design a package having the smallest volume and smallest mass, which protected the chip so it would arrive at its destination undamaged.
Taking first place was the Walnut Springs team of Paul Treaster, Joel Cheryiyot, and Sienna Kerr-Beyor (taught by Allison Simpson). Team Blendon came in second – Cole Miller, Ryan Hamlin, and Connor Forehand (Jeffrey Murdock). Placing third were pupils from Genoa, consisting of members Niko Belov and Bryce Wilson (Carla Gilbert). Heritage came in fourth – Liam Schlagbaum, Liliana Yau, and Hafsa Jama (Amy Freeman). The design challenge is supported by the Science and Gifted Education Departments.