LA PLATA, Md. (May 4, 2010)—Twelve Charles County Public Schools teams placed in the secondary Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) competition held April 20 at North Point High School. Student teams competed in competitions that test their abilities in mathematics and science.
General Smallwood Middle School was chosen as the overall middle-school winner and Thomas Stone High School was chosen as the overall high-school winner. MESA teams from Smallwood and Stone advance to the state competition on May 3 as regional winners.
Middle-school teams compete in four competitions: Bass Wood Bridge, Effective Communication, SCRATCH Banner Design and Wind Energy Challenge. The high-school teams also compete in four competitions: Bass Wood Bridge, Cargo Plane, Effective Communication and Wind Energy Challenge.
First-, second-, and third-place teams receive awards and one overall middle and high school winner is chosen. The school that earns the most points throughout the competition is chosen as the overall winner.
The following teams placed at the middle school level:
Bass Wood Bridge:
-- General Smallwood Middle School, first place;
-- Matthew Henson Middle School, second place; and
-- Milton M. Somers Middle School, third place.
Effective Communication:
-- Smallwood, first place;
-- Piccowaxen Middle School, second place; and
-- Somers, third place.
SCRATCH Banner Design:
-- Theodore G. Davis Middle School, first place;
-- Piccowaxen, second place; and
-- Mattawoman Middle School, third place.
Wind Energy Challenge:
-- Somers, first place;
-- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, second place; and
-- Smallwood, third place.
The following teams placed at the high school level:
Bass Wood Bridge:
-- Thomas Stone High School, first place; and
-- La Plata High School, second place.
Effective Communication:
-- Henry E. Lackey High School, first place;
-- North Point High School, second place; and
-- Stone, third place.
Cargo Plane:
-- Stone, first place;
-- La Plata, second place; and
-- Lackey, third place.
Wind Energy Challenge:
-- La Plata, first place;
-- Westlake High School, second place; and
-- Stone, third place.
More than 245 middle and high school students competed in the secondary competition. Students from the 21 county elementary schools compete in the elementary level MESA competition earlier this month.
This is the third year Charles County Public Schools competed as a separate Maryland MESA region, due to growth of participation in the program. In previous competitions, students from Charles County Public Schools competed in the regional competition with Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.
Maryland MESA is designed to prepare students for academic and professional careers in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology. The program's goals are to increase the number of engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and related professionals at technical and management levels; and to serve as a driving force in encouraging and assisting minorities and females in achieving success in these fields.