Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teams recently competed in the Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) state competition, with four CCPS elementary school clubs taking first place in challenges designed to test engineering know-how, creativity and teamwork.
The Statewide MESA Day Showcase and Awards Ceremony was held May 4 at the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel.
There are five challenges in the MESA showcase — the Storybook Theme Park Ride Challenge, the Community Clean Up Challenge, the Planetary Lander Challenge, the Wearable Technology Challenge and the National Engineering Design Competition.
The Storybook Challenge is limited to elementary school teams, while the Community Clean Up, Planetary Lander and Wearable Technology challenges were open to all three levels — elementary, middle and high schools. Middle and high school MESA clubs can tackle the National Engineering Design Competition (NEDC).
CCPS elementary schools placed first in four challenges. A team from Berry Elementary School placed first in the Community Clean Up Challenge; first place in the Wearable Technology Challenge was awarded to a club from William A. Diggs Elementary School; a team from Malcolm Elementary School placed first in the Planetary Lander Challenge; and a club from Diggs took home a first-place trophy in the Storybook Theme Park Ride Challenge.
A team from Theodore G. Davis Middle School placed second in the Wearable Technology Challenge and a Piccowaxen Middle School club received a second-place award in the National Engineering Design Competition (NEDC).
A team from St. Charles High School nabbed third place in the Planetary Lander Challenge.
MESA teams participate in competitions while learning about and engaging in engineering, computer programming, physics and other STEM disciplines. MESA students see real-world applications of lessons they are learning in school, develop the STEM skills they will need in the future and begin to see how they could one day work in STEM careers.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).