WMA wins 3 awards at regional science event

A group of Grade 7 students from Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Middle School thinks this year’s Future City event was “wunderbar!”

Presenting a model of Berlin, Germany, in the year 2124, WMA’s Team Olympus Electrified placed third overall at the 25th Annual New England Regional Future City Competition at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts, Jan. 20.

Representing the Class of 2029, WMA sent two Grade 7 teams to the Future City Competition, a national event where students in Grades 6-8 design and engineer a city 100 years from today. Approximately 30 teams participated in Boston.

Team Olympus Electrified included Felix Bain-Purdy, Olivia Caban, Audrey Vipond, Chloe Corneau, Owen Dolley, Braden Lora, Gabby Lovelace, Rosalie Machowski, Esiyena Ojior and Hailey Tabb. The group also won an award for Best Model.

WMA’s Titan Turbines, which designed Monaco, won the Prestigious Education System Award. That group consisted of Jackson Lyons, Sam Healy, Ben Boudreau, Seth Pio, Jaxon Dwyer, Julia Chang, Isabelle Graham, Madison Stephenson, Ava Sarkis, Sabina Zwyrbla and McKayla O'Donnell.

Quotes from Mr. Jamie Gouin, Grade 7 Science teacher

On why he feels it’s important to attend Future City: “I think it is important to always put our students into the role of being scientists and engineers by being scientists and engineers. Students had to research, build, problem solve and work together to succeed. In addition, I think it is great for people outside of our WMA community to witness how great our students are. This is a great project to be a part of during the dog days of winter.”

On a WMA team placing third: “I was relieved when I heard their team called. I knew how hard they worked. To just be placed in the top three shows how good they were. I was excited for them and a little nervous at the start of the final round. Rose, Gabby and Braden had to speak in front of more than 200 people. We only practiced our presentations once that week. I was amazed at how well they came together at the end.”

On the overall experience: “It was a great experience. Wentworth was an excellent host. I was so proud of our students and how mature they were in front of engineers, college professors and the other competitors.”

Braden on the team placing third: “Our team placing third was pretty exciting, and I was very happy with our team's work and overall was proud of not only myself but my teammates. When my team and myself found out we were going to be at least in the top three we were so happy, but were very nervous and the anticipation was making us even more nervous.”

Gabby on what she enjoyed about the competition: “I enjoyed seeing all the other future cities, they were all so cool. I also enjoyed hanging out with my friends and presenting in front of the judges.”