On April 30, Clarkston was represented by seven elementary teams at the Future Problem Solving State Bowl at Eastern Michigan University. The competition is based on rigorous futuristic thinking and creative problem solving.
The State Bowl is the culmination of a yearlong study, where students learned how to creatively solve problems related to the future focusing on three practice problems. This year, over 1,000 Michigan students worked on problems titled: ‘Entertainment, Computer Security and Agriculture of the 21st Century.?
Clarkston teams did so well on the practice problems, they qualified to compete at the State Bowl. The 2005 State Bowl problem is titled ‘Depletion of Oceanic Species;? however, students only learn the exact nature of the problem when the Bowl begins.
Each team works independently in a private classroom on the Eastern Michigan University campus for two hours. They complete a 12 ? page booklet in which they identify and write 16 problems, one main underlying problem, 16 solutions, and create and apply criteria.
In addition, the students also write an action plan and perform a skit outlining the details of their solution to the judges.
Students who participated and their team performance include:
Independence Elementary ? Coach April Wuest. Team 1 (5th grade) Chelsea Chase, Spencer Pawlik and Nathan Rodgers received 3rd place medals for presentation of Best Solution. Team 2 (5th grade) Nick Dahl, Ethan Frick, C.J. Gozdor and Andrew Salada received 4th place trophies for Finalists for Team Booklet Writing. Team 3 (4th grade) James Heckendorn, Elizabeth Ridge, Kyle Savoie and Valerie Weaver received Semi-Finalists medals for Team Booklet Writing.
North Sashabaw Elementary ? Coach April Wuest. Team 1 (5th grade) Nathan Lake, Emily Seiltz, Danielle Dunn and Miranda Sloan demonstrated great teamwork.
Clarkston Elementary ? Coach Sue Banworth. Team 1 (5th grade) Lisa Lyons, Amber Gustafson, Jackie Vanderheyden and Nadia Torres received 2nd place medals for Presentation for Best Solution. In addition, coaches Sue Banworth and April Wuest each received an award for Outstanding ‘Rookie? Coach of the Year.
Way to go Clarkston!
? Courtesy of April Wuest.