MUSD teams win half dozen Tech Challenge Awards

Six teams from seven different Milpitas Unified School District schools earned awards at this year’s 38th Annual Tech Challenge Final Showcase, which took place May 3-4 in San Jose. More than 600 teams of 4th-12th grade students put their creative solutions and engineering journals to the test in front of judges.

MUSD Tech Challenge winners were:

• Judge’s Choice Momentum Team #24 Rolling Ducks Randall Elementary School;
• Outstanding Engineering Journal Team #203 Quantum Queens Sinnott Elementary School;
• Outstanding Device Performance Team #191 Burnett Elementary School;
• Outstanding Engineering Design Process  Team #425 Navitas Explorers Zanker Elementary School;
• Jerry Lovelace Love of Engineering Award Team #190 Tech Titans Burnett Elementary School; and
• Judges’ Inspiration Award Team #93 Milpitas Explorers Pomeroy Elementary School, Curtner Elementary School, Thomas Russell Middle School.

This year's challenge, coined “Gravitate to Navigate,” was to build a gravity-powered vehicle that could traverse multiple tracks of increasing difficulty. Each team was required to build a single gravity powered device to complete four successful runs while carrying a tennis ball payload.Teams were judged in equal parts on the performance of their device, the quality of their engineering journal, and an interview with judges.

“This weekend was a celebration of innovation, resilience, and teamwork,” said Abby Longcor, Senior Director of The Tech Challenge in a press release. “Every team showed us that with creativity and determination, young people can tackle even the most complex challenges. Our hope is that The Tech Challenge gives participants the confidence, skills, and passion to pursue future studies or careers in science, engineering, and beyond.”