Charles MESA teams place at states
Charles County Public Schools teams recently competed in the 2022 Maryland State Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Virtual Showcase on May 7.
The event was hosted by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
Teams from J.P. Ryon, Walter J. Mitchell and William A. Diggs elementary schools, Matthew Henson and Piccowaxen middle schools, and La Plata and North Point high schools participated in the event.
J.P. Ryon took first-place in the Mobile App Design Challenge.
“The most rewarding part about being a MESA coordinator is watching scholars’ confidence grow and their ability to persevere when things get tough.” said Keena Skinner, who along with Bianca Valdez were the team’s coordinator. “You also get to see leaders starting to present themselves throughout the process.”
“The best part of being a MESA coach is seeing their hard
work finally come together,” Valdez said. “They are so excited when they develop a project that works and that they are proud of. When students join the elementary MESA program, it is often their first major experience solving intense STEM challenges. They are faced with the design engineering process of constantly having to redesign and retest.”
Valdez said that seeing the joy and excitement from the students after they have developed a successful project contributes to her returning each year as a coordinator.
“Seeing the amazing things they create keeps me going back to MESA year after year,” she said.
The following teams placed at the state competition:
Elementary school Mobile App Design Challenge
First - J.P. Ryon (Kevin Mejia Trochez, Micah Brown, Mateo Bradford, Madison Walton-Johnson)
Wearable Technology Challenge
Second - William A. Diggs (Zeina Amin, Imani Moultrie, Jaiden Smith; coordinators Traci Davis, Michael Johnson, Jennifer Everett)
Expanding Structure
Second - William A. Diggs (Zendaya Harris, Reev Gaudren, Gilbert Dean, David Okoli; coordinators Davis, Johnson, Everett)
Storybook Theme Park Ride
Second - Walter J. Mitchell (Jace Williams, Dylan Thompson, Kylie Dietrich, Teagan Rooney; coordinators Clarissa Roper, Mollie Whathen)
Middle school Wearable Technology
Third - Piccowaxen (Bianka Magana, Addison Mudd, Kinsey Mudd, Rowan Leonard; coordinators Sherri Gibney, Victoria Farrell)