LA PLATA, Md. (May 12, 2010)—Indian Head Elementary School won the top spot at the elementary level at the statewide Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) competition held Monday, May 3, at John Hopkins University.
The team was named the overall state elementary champion, and received awards in all four featured events: first place in the Storybook Theme Park Ride category; second place in the Balsa Wood Bridge category; and third place in both the Effective Communication and Scratch Banner Design events.
Team members are fourth graders Kahress Beverly, Zanae Cooper, Marquise Lynton, Reines Maliksi, Chloe Nelson, Mackenzie Sauter, Avery Stokes, Dream Washington, Jessica Williams and Andrew Wright; and fifth graders Amy Asiala, Yasmin Brown, Antoniyo Keys, Alyssa Miller, Shawnee Mills, Cayla Riddick, DeJonna Victor and Dylan Wood. Coaches are Tim Emhoff, Indian Head science teacher, Alicia Stahl, technology facilitator at Indian Head, and Indian Head teacher Sharyl Davis.
Teams from General Smallwood Middle School and Thomas Stone High School also placed at the state level. Smallwood earned third place in the Bass Wood Bridge, Effective Communications and Windmill categories. The team from Stone earned third place in the Bass Wood Bridge category.
Awards were given for first-, second-, and third-place teams and one overall state elementary and secondary winner is chosen. The school that earns the most points throughout the competition is chosen as the overall winner.
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.
Source: Charles County Public Schools