Craik, Somers named best overall schools at state MESA event

Dr. James Craik Elementary School and Milton M. Somers Middle School earned the 2017 overall Maryland Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) honors at their respective levels at the state competition held May 18. This is the second consecutive year that MESA teams from both Craik and Somers received the best overall award at the state event.

The state competition was held at John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Teams chosen for the overall award are selected for earning the most points during the competition.

The Craik team received first-place awards in the Balsawood Bridge, Scratch computer programming, and Effective Communication competitions, and second place in the Storybook Theme Park Ride competition.

Students on the team include fourth graders Ada Donohue, Lainey Mullikin, Conley Onyeador, Christian Pemberton, Ava Rowledge, Emonee Rhynes, Cadence Tolbert, Jordyn Tyler and Dylan Villarouel, and fifth graders Amie Browning, Rachel Chernoff, Addy Donnick, Isabella Grimsley, Zachary Huseman, Devin Knott, Mahee Patel, Jordan Porter and Amna Shah. Team sponsors are Craik teachers Ashley Bendert and Susan Steinmetz.

The Somers team received second place in both the ALICE computer programming and Basswood Bridge competitions.

Students on the team include sixth graders Ethan Cline, Wyatt Newcomb, Anna Sullivan and Madi Sullivan, seventh graders Michelle Ameyaw, Samuel Chernoff and Aastha Patel, and eighth graders Joey Papagno, Khushi Patel, Ebin Sebastian and Sarah Treadway. Sponsors of the team are Somers teachers Deborah Simmons and Sarah Williams.

Both teams will be honored before the Board of Education at its June 13 meeting. Schools advancing to the state competition after earning the best overall award at the local MESA competition. Teams from General Smallwood Middle School and Henry E. Lackey High School also competed at the state event after receiving first place in the Prosthetic Arm Challenge at the county competition.

Maryland MESA is designed to prepare students for academic and professional careers in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology. The program’s goals are to increase the number of engineers, scientists, mathematicians and related professionals at technical and management levels; and to serve as a driving force in encouraging and assisting minorities and females in achieving success in these fields.