Connecting students around STEM: Three local districts team for Friday building competition

ASHLAND — Hillsdale High School Principal Dave Baker says he isn’t worried about the future of the world — not so long as it’s in the hands of students like those from Hillsdale or two other local districts that he was interacting with Friday morning.

On Feb. 21, Hillsdale High School hosted third through eighth grade students from the Hillsdale Local, Triway Local and Loudonville-Perrysville School Districts for a K’Nex Bridge and Car Build competition.

“It’s amazing what happens when you put things in the hands of kids and tell them to be creative. You’ll never be disappointed, and you’ll always be surprised by how much they can do,” said Principal Baker, who is new to Hillsdale School District in the 2019-2020 school year.

“If anyone is worrying about the world or the future, they shouldn’t. All they have to do is spend a couple hours with a group like these kids, and they’ll change their perspective.” 

Baker had previously held similar events at other districts, including one in the Cincinnati region last year. He came to Hillsdale looking to get back into education and out of retirement. 

“I had done this for years, and when I came here, I asked if I could hold one here, and they were incredibly supportive,” he said. 

In teams of two to four, approximately 125 students from each district’s STEM and math classes were tasked with creating a 30-inch bridge and a battery-powered K’Nex car that would successfully travel across the team’s bridge. 

The top bridge and car combo for each grade level would be determined by Ashland University education students and awarded a trophy. Then, the “top build of the day” would be announced. 

“The students designed a rubric to judge the process beginning to end. They are looking for construction of both the bridge and the car, also how the teams are working together and kindness,” said Amy Crawford, assistant professor at Ashland University in the teacher education department.

She hopes the experience provides her students with real-world experience and motivates them to implement similar hands-on projects in their own classrooms some day.

The day began at 8:45 a.m. with a candy bar exchange (to promote kindness) and hundreds of thousands of dismantled K’Nex pieces. By 10:30 a.m., the bridges and cars had nearly come to life. 

Students like Ethan Miller and Bradey Krichbaum had a working car and bridge and were busy adding the final touches to their project. The Hillsdale seventh graders proudly watched as their car rolled across their bridge without any issues. The bridge’s sturdy structure didn’t budge as the car stayed on track from one side to the other.

“We figured the triangle would be the strongest shape because the sides here together lean together, and with this, there’s no way for it to fall down,” Miller said. “I had been thinking about this before today.” 

Across the room, four Loudonville sixth graders were equally beaming with pride as their car made it across their bridge. Kylar Staten, Callie Scarberry, Aubrey Strouse and Emily Kern said they prioritized teamwork. 

“We all had separate ideas and eventually in the end we all realized they’d all go perfectly together to make a design where our car could get across,” Strouse said.

They were working to further bolster the bridge’s stability and enhance its creative components in the final minutes of the contest.

Yet another group was working through a challenge and briefly caught the attention Principal Baker. 

“You guys are amazing,” he exclaimed, encouraging them to continue. 

“Success today, it’s about team work and kindness,” Baker said. 

Third Grade Results – tie

– Hillsdale Team 3-C : Stephen Wiltrout, Braylen Vogler, Blake Bradley and Cameron Brown

– Triway Pride: Emily Campbell, Logan Dearth, Brayden Miller and Mary Miedel

 Fourth Grade Results – tie

 – Hillsdale Team 4-C: Evan Crider, Bradley Hartsel and Derek Coleman

– Top Four Triway: Jacob Bicker, Kenasym Garrison, Taron Tate and Julie Westover 

Fifth Grade Results 

#Titans4theWin from Triway: Daniel Holmes, Kaden Hilty, Lexi Long and Mia Mariola

Sixth Grade Results

Furious 4 from Triway: Sophia James, Luke Starr, Luke Broughton and Audrey Watson

Seventh Grade Results

Dynamic Duo from Hillsdale: Ethan Miller and Brady Krichbaum

Eighth Grade Results – tie

Charlie’s Angels from Loudonville: Emma Templeman, Taylor Eades, Alayna Zeigler and Jocelyn Grassman

The Mighty Falcons from Hillsdale: Thorn Funk and Bo Moody

Inspiration Award

Triway’s J.J. Cottrell

Top Build of the Day Trophy – tie

#Titans4theWin from Triway: Daniel Holmes, Kaden Hilty, Lexi Long and Mia Mariola

Furious 4 from Triway: Sophia James, Luke Starr, Luke Broughton and Audrey Watson