Second Annual Event A Success
The LaSalle Parish School system hosted its second annual STEM Competition on Wednesday, May 14 at Jena First Baptist Church. At the event, each of the parish’s nine schools had several teams of students compete in STEM challenges, divided by four age groups. Chosen by their own teachers for this year’s competition, these students represent the best and brightest in STEM subjects.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives and curriculum focuses on preparing students for the future by blending traditional subjects such as math and science with hands-on experiences to enhance problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking skills.
This parish-wide STEM competition is just one way the school district has been and will continue to increase students’ participation in STEM education, which will prepare them for the future.
During the event, age-specific teams were able to compete in two different STEM competitions.
For the K-2 grade band, the two challenges included the “Build a Raft That Floats” Challenge and the “Build the Tallest Paper Tower” Challenge, each designed to showcase the young learners’ engineering skills.
In the 3-5 grade band, teams could participate in the “Egg Drop Engineering” Challenge and the “Build a Bridge That Holds Weight” Challenge, putting their problem-solving skills to the test.
The 6-8 grade band saw their designs come to life in the “Straw Rocket Launch” Challenge and the “Build a Paper Roller Coaster” Challenge.
For the 9-12 grade band, students demonstrated what their robotics can do in the “VEX V5 Robotics” Challenge and the “VEX EXP Robotics” Challenge.
Each team was scored by a panel of judges. At the conclusion of the competition, a first, second and third place winner was awarded for each challenge. Each age group also saw an overall winner, taking home the largest trophy at the competition.
STEM Competition Results K-2 Grade Band
Build a Raft That Floats
1st Place: Jena Elementary – Maddox Book, Lucas McKeithen, Nolan Taylor, Ava Walker
2nd Place: Fellowship Elementary – Brantley Jones, Maddox McDowell, Taylor Parker, Alli Schneider
3rd Place: Jena Elementary – Trey Couch, Eliza Barber, Elliott Williams, Bently Brown Build the Tallest Paper Tower
1st Place: Olla Elementary – Brayson Lee, Layla Brown
2nd Place: Jena Elementary – Huey Curry, Andrew Smith, Mareha Hill, Lilah Steen
3rd Place: Jena Elementary – Lacy Spence, Kambrie Webster, Alex Gates, Hayes Williams
K-2 Overall Winner: Olla Elementary School
3-5 Grade Band Egg Drop Engineering
1st Place: Olla Elementary – Ann Garrity Griffin, Holden Dennison
2nd Place: Good Pine Middle – Gage Crooks, Andrew McKeithen, Knox Little
3rd Place: Olla Elementary – Owen Strong, Josie Sikes Build a Bridge That Holds Weight
1st Place: Olla Elementary – Kaison Young, Remi Wilson
2nd Place: Nebo Elementary – Gage Johnson, Maverick Carney, Isabella Schmitt
3rd Place: Olla Elementary – Anna Carr, Andrew Powell, Sophie Cubbit
3-5 Overall Winner: Fellowship Elementary School
6-8 Grade Band Straw Rocket Launch
1st Place: Fellowship Elementary – Ceanna Benandi, Laurel Pugh, Jayden Jones
2nd Place: LaSalle Junior High – Bronx Bertrand, Jaxen Lisenby, Presley Denison, Livi Fenoli
3rd Place: Jena Junior High – Ben Lord, Beaux Beard, Adryan Smith, Jeremiah Harrison Build a Paper Roller Coaster
1st Place: Jena Junior High – Caleb Spence, Aiden Scott, Cooper Masters
2nd Place: Nebo Elementary – Anneliese Francis, Adelyn Brown, David Mattson, Milah Kate Norris
3rd Place: Jena Junior High – Cannon Joy, Carson, Hughart, Hunter Poole
6-8 Overall Winner: Jena Junior High School
9-12 Grade Band VEX V5 Robotics
1st Place: Jena High – Christian Villanueva, Nate Gresham
2nd Place: Jena High – Connor Vercher, Ava Ford
3rd Place: Jena High – Robert Dunn, Richard Pucell VEX EXP Robotics
1st Place: LaSalle High – Ethan Shelton, Caleb Fowler
2nd Place: LaSalle High – Brodie Rogers, Avery Kang
3rd Place: LaSalle High – Ashton Cockerham, Shyann Hatten
9-12 Overall Winner: Jena High School
The LaSalle Parish School system would like to thank the sponsors of this year’s STEM Competition: The Cliff Williams Foundation and H&P Drilling. This highly anticipated event would not be possible without the support of these two sponsors.
