Fort Wayne high school team wins competition at Trine University

Squads from Lagrange also address engineering challenges

ANGOLA, IN (03/13/2014)(readMedia)-- ANGOLA, Ind. – Area high school teams competed in two divisions during the annual TEAMS competition at Trine University. The Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science competition, "Engineering Tomorrow's Cities," is based on the National Academy of Engineering grand challenge to "restore and improve urban infrastructure."

Students on 12 teams addressed engineering challenges in areas such as transportation, green space and fresh-water supply during the Feb. 20 competition.

A team from Canterbury High School in Fort Wayne won the John J. McKetta Outstanding Junior Engineering Team Award for Division I. A team representing Kalamazoo Christian High School in Kalamazoo, Mich., won the Mike McKetta Outstanding Junior Engineering Team Award for Division II. The awards were sponsored by Trine's McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering.

Division I teams

Winning team --  Canterbury High School, Fort Wayne, 11th- and 12th-grade team, members are Peter Dun, Bryan Ko, Ankur Lal, Walter Li, Michael Wang, Georgia Lea Williams and Honghan Zhu. Coached by Walt Rieger.

Fremont High School, Fremont, 11th- and 12th-grade team, members are Melissa Beer, Kyle Boekhout, Kaileigh Folland, April Hart, Tony LaRose, Logan Peel, Colene Short and Zach Roebel. Coached by Laura Taylor.

Lakeland High School, Lagrange, ninth- and 10th-grade team, members are Caleb Bennett, Joey Berry, Cole Miller and Christina Sanchez. Coached by Thom Taylor.

Lakeland High School, Lagrange, 11th- and 12th-grade team, members are Tristen Dominguez , Lukas Everhart, Zachery Johnston, Morgan Moore and Hunter Sams. Coached by Thom Taylor.

Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center , Kalamazoo, 11th- and 12th-grade "A Team," members are Evan Batsell, Abby Chapin, Angus Gibbs, Clayton Meldrum, Humza Mirza, Kayla Park, Amber Salome and Taryn Withers. Coached by Michael Sinclair.

Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center, Kalamazoo, 11th- and 12th-grade "B Team," members are Cameron Andrews, Marie Freudenburg, Abhay Goel, Carolyn Hamman, Subhodh Kotekal, Jacob Naranjo, Rachel Pohs and Geneviere Sentiz. Coached by Michael Sinclair.

Kalamazoo Christian High School, Kalamazoo, Mich., 11th- and 12th-grade, members are Jessica Bouma, Joe Brouwer, Sam Brouwer, Natalie Deering, Tess DeJong, Morgan French, Kate McLain and Justin Richardson. Coached by Al Nieboer.

Division II teams

Winning team -- Kalamazoo Christian High School, Kalamazoo, ninth- and 10-grade team, members are Tyler Boes, Ridge DeJong, Travis Hoogenboom, Alex Pease, Josh Wenke, Mitch Westendorp, Ryan Wunderly and Kevin Wunderly. Coached by Al Nieboer.

Penn High School, Mishawaka, 11th- and 12-grade "A Team," members are Timothy Liu, Emily Song, Harisa Spahic, Madison Strainis, Nithin Varadharajan, Rocky Villano, Kevin Wang and Shelley Zhang. Coached by Becky Tagliaferri.

Penn High School, Mishawaka, 11th- and 12-grade "B Team," members are Paul Kwak, Steven Latimer, Casey Levan, Molly Schrager, Julie Stevenson, Rachel Susler, Stephanie Tapp  and Disha Waghray. Coached by Becky Tagliaferri.

Penn High School, Mishawaka, 11th- and 12-grade "C Team," members are AJ Edelbrock, Morgan Hurst, Paul Lee, Austin Raffelock, Josh Rajkumar, Faadil Shariff, Mia Sheppard and Maddie Woods. Coached by Becky Tagliaferri.

Penn High School, Mishawaka, ninth- and 10th-grade team, members are Kanika Arora, Edward Atkinson, Jack Bao, Megha Devaraj, David Kim, Olivia Mercurio, Yeejee Oh and Matt Shan. Coached by Becky Tagliaferri.

The Technology Student Association (TSA) TEAMS program is an annual middle and high school competition helping students discover their potential for engineering.  Using math, science and 21st-century learning skills, students work together to problem-solve real, everyday world challenges.  Throughout the competition, students work collaboratively to solve original and innovative engineering scenarios focused on an annual theme.

The goal of TEAMS participation is to increase knowledge of engineering, build confidence about participating in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities and improve their ability to work with others to solve complex problems.

Note to editors: Team photos are available, please contact Debbie Myers at 260.665.4133 or myerslockwoodd@trine.edu.

Join the conversation, #TrineU.

Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, informatics, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. Trine is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Its golf program includes the university-owned 18-hole championship Zollner Golf Course. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org), Trine operates a 450-acre main campus in Angola, Ind., and education resource centers throughout Indiana, Arizona and Michigan.

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