For Immediate Release:   May 28, 2008

 

Brevard Students Win in High-Tech Competition

 

VIERA—Teams from Stone Middle School and West Melbourne Elementary School for Science have won $21,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds by taking regional awards in this year’s national eCYBERMISSION competition. eCYBERMISSION is a U.S. Army-sponsored, web-based science, math and technology competition that allows students in grades six through nine to compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their communities.

Taking a first-place award, which includes $3,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds for each student and an invitation to attend the National Judging and Educational Event in Washington, D.C. in June, is the “SBS Bots” team, comprised of eighth graders Zen Campbell, Jason Draper, Dalton Stanley and Spencer Tuttle of Stone Middle School. The team was recognized by judges for its research into the problem of Sick Building Syndrome, a persistent allergic reaction from people who live or work in places that have allergens in the HVAC systems. The students grew E. coli in a Petri dish, placed it inside an air duct, programmed a robot to travel into the duct and expose the dish to ultraviolet light and then measured the number of remaining E. coli cells.

Taking a second-place award which includes $3,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds for each student, is the “Ameoboyds” team from West Melbourne Elementary School for Science, comprised of sixth graders Allen Carter, Jose Nieves and Ryan Regan. The students researched amoebic meningitis, a rare disease. The students conducted experiments regarding the effects of saline solution on amoebic mortality rates and found that salinity does affect amoeba mortality rates. Both teams were led by Team Adviser Richard Regan.

“This is a wonderful achievement for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Richard A. DiPatri. “The research skills that are refined in this type of competition are critically important. I congratulate Stone Middle School, West Melbourne Elementary, Mr. Regan, and these outstanding students.”

This year, 1,763 teams, comprised of 6,382 students, submitted their research for judging. Now in its sixth year, eCYBERMISSION has awarded more than $4.6 million in U.S. EE Savings Bonds in support of the science, math and technology leaders of tomorrow. Since its inception, more than 46,000 students from across the country and in U.S. territories and Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide have participated in the competition. For a complete listing of the 2007-2008 winners or for more information, visit www.ecybermission.com.

                       

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