DestiNation-Ames, Iowa

ImagiNation- Recognition for WSPMS and the State of Virginia

Pence Team Places in Global Competition

 

The "Fruit Roller Coaster" team of Michael Billington, Sergie Faerchuck, Daniel Frederick, Danny Hieber, Drew Richard and Andrew Shantz spent May 23rd -27th in a creative problem solving competition involving 49 states and nine countries. This tournament was the final competition of the creative problem solving program , Destination ImaginNation, which is designed to encourage students to be active problem solvers.

This Pence team, only one of two Virginia teams to receive recognition, placed sixth in the engineering problem. In this challenge, teams are encouraged to learn what happens as a transportation system goes faster and faster. The teams are asked to research, experiment, design and build a roller coaster that transports "ridders" --tennis balls-- through a course as fast as possible. The course must include several required "thrill events" such as a loop, a corkscrew, a jump and a team designed thrill. And, along with the innovative roller coaster ride, the teams must create a presentation that makes a positive contribution to the world.

While these young men spent months in the garage of their coach John Haines,

developing their solution, they also practiced spontaneous problem solving strategies. A major part of the competition is to solve an unknown problem with your team in a short amount of time.

The team did very well considering that their sixth place at the Global Finals, in theory, included all the teams who attempted to solve the problem around the world. (A conservative estimate would be 10,000 teams.)

The competition was held at the University of Iowa. There were 764 teams at the tournament. Along with the 8,000 students competing were 7,000 supports, parents, and officials. Over 15,000 spectators were in attendance at the Hilton Coliseum on May 27th for the impressive, Olympic style,closing ceremonies.

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