| Two teams of Wilkinsburg High School students attained "Best Innovation" honors in the University of Pittsburgh's 5th Annual Innovative Design Competition held on February 19, 2010 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. One of those teams also went on to achieve "Best Design" and overall second place, along with $2,000 scholarships and paid summer internships at the University of Pittsburgh. In honor of their achievement, all winning students were presented with medals and Einstein Awards for Innovation.
The High School Innovative Design Competition engages students as both scientists and engineers, charged with the task of designing creative solutions to difficult problems. In the field of Physics, eleventh-graders Frenchie Skeffery and Monsae' Jones, led by teacher Jim Bilka, won "Best Design," "Best Innovation," and overall second-place for their design of an artificial limb called, "The Cloud Nine." The Cloud Nine enables its user to apply a gripping force to an object that needs to be lifted or moved. Frenchie and Monsae' also received $2,000 scholarships and paid summer internships in Pitt's John A. Swanson Center for Product Realization.
In the field of Chemistry, tenth-graders Alexandra Porter, Jordan Howard, Jason Paylor, and Tisha Harris, along with eleventh-grader Jalisa Fields, won first place in Innovation and Best in Science for their design of a cooling system for the bullet-proof vest. Their motivation came from the knowledge that such vests have been proven to raise body temperatures to unhealthy levels. Led by teachers Rick Domm and Lawson Shaw, the team has plans to partner with the local police department to put the "Bullet Proof Cool Vest" to use.
Other high schools who participated in the competition include: Woodland Hills, McKeesport, North Catholic, Steel Valley, and Westinghouse. |
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