May 21, 2016 By Linda Harkcom for The 3 min read

The Ramsay Elementary School STEM Team recently competed at the 2016 Pennsylvania State STEM Design Challenge in Harrisburg.

The team competed against 23 other teams in the grade 4-5 division.

“Even though Ramsay did not place in the competition, the students enjoyed getting to know students across the state and seeing the structures that other teams built,” said Ramsay Elementary School teacher Kristy Frohliger.

The Mount Pleasant Area School District fifth-grade students earned the spot in the state competition by winning the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit K’Nex STEM Design Challenge Division 1 in April.

Frohliger said this is the third year for the local competition, and she has entered a team of fifth-grade students every year.

“Each Thursday in science class, I do a STEM activity. During this activity, the students solve and build various puzzles using creativity and random materials. I choose the four kids that I want on the team based on their ability to do these STEM activities,” Frohliger said.

STEM is a curriculum based on educating students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

She said she takes the time out of her schedule to do this activity with her students each year because she thinks it is a valuable learning experience for the students.

“They learn how to work together on a team, make creative K’Nex structures, think like a scientist, put together a winning presentation for the judges and how to speak in front of others. In addition, it gives them the opportunity to meet students from other school districts on the day of the competition,” she said.

Frohliger said this is the second time the school had a team make it to the state level.

“The first year, we won first place and went, the second year we won second place. Only first place winners attend,” Frohliger said.

This year’s team includes Jelysa Augustine, Gianna Fleck, Jacob Procter and Wyatt Barnhart, all 11 from Mt. Pleasant.

Augustine said she was happy to be chosen for the team because she wants to someday work at Google and build robots.

“I just wanted the experience. It seemed like a pretty cool competition,” Fleck said.

Teams were challenged to design a building using K’Nex construction toys. This building had to be at least one meter tall and must be able to hold weight. During the presentation teams had to show the strength of their building using books, weights, etc. and also address how their building is environmentally friendly.

Teams were judged on creativity, teamwork, challenge success, design and presentation.

The Ramsay team created a ecologically friendly, LEED Certified building they called the “Kong-A-Trong Hotel” which was modeled after the Hearst Tower in New York City.

“Its elevator is solar powered,” Fleck said.

Barnhart said he and his teammates were very happy and shocked when they won at the local competition and Frohliger said she was very proud of her team won.

“This team worked through all of their recesses and some homeroom time since December to work on their building and presentation. They practiced a lot and were so nervous and excited that day, it was a great ending to a great day,” Frohliger said.

All of the team members said they were excited to compete at the state level.

“We get to go against all the other good teams in the state and see how we do,” Augustine said.