STEM

Ohio Students Win Scholarships, Grants at Career STEM Day

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 04/27/15

Fifteen high school students have a little more money for college and 50 more won grants for their schools following Goodyear's Annual STEM Career Day.

The company challenged students in grades 6-12 to design a Rube Goldberg machine that would fill a Goodyear blimp with supplies during a zombie apocalypse without falling victim to the undead. The winning team was eligible for us to $4,000.

"The company welcomed more than 1,556 students, accompanied by parents and teachers to the University of Akron for the day-long event on April 18," according to a news release. "In addition to exploring the campus, students interacted with representatives from more than 50 local organizations, who hosted hands-on STEM-based activities throughout the day."

Winning schools for the Rube Goldberg Challenge include:

• First place among high school teams, along with $4,000, went to Black River High School;
• Buckeye High School took second place and $3,000;
• Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School placed third and won $1,500;
• First place of the middle school division, and a $1,000 prize, went to Catalyst Homeschool Academy;
• Brecksville Broadview Heights Middle School placed second and also won $1,000; and
• Third place and $500 went to Edison Middle School.

Students winning scholarships included:

• Benjamin Robinson of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy;
• Louise Beckstrom from Aurora High School;
• Charles Cilensek of Mentor High School;
• Miranda Hughes of Southeast High School;
• Chancelor Sunkle of Washington High School;
• Nathan Peterman of Revere High School;
• Sean Umstot of Waterloo High School;
• North Royalton High School's Lisa Twarog;
• Zack Li from Copley High School;
• Alexander Karwowski of Highland High School;
• Wadsworth High School's Brian Auffenberg;
• Hoover High School Student Deanna Chapa;
• Alex Willey of Heath High School;
• Alexander Vetrick of Buckeye High School, Medina, Ohio; and
• Revere High School's Monica Feltman.

"It is important that we encourage our young people to pursue careers in science and technology. That's the reason why 300 Goodyear volunteers – most of them associates at our Innovation Center in Akron – work so hard to plan this event," said Chief Technical OfficerJoe Zekoski. "Looking at the creativity demonstrated by so many of the students, I am confident they have bright careers ahead of them."