Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Spring 2013

---

In the Spring 2013 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter

- Hawks Win Second Place at 2013 School District Olympiad
- NextEra Energy SECME Generator Build Competition
- Alumni Advise on Surviving College
- Math Midway exhibit at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Ft. Lauderdale
- Seminole SECME remembers Sandy Hook Elementary
- A Shout Out to Our Sponsors

Click here to download the attached PDF copy of our Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Spring 2013 issue
Hawk Talk Winter 2013

---

Announcing NASA's Cassini Scientist for a Day 2012 Essay Contest for Grade 5-12 Students

Announcing NASA's 2012 Edition of the Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest

The Cassini spacecraft launched in October 1997 and has been orbiting Saturn since 2004.

The essay contest is open to students in grades 5-12.  Essays must be under 500 words.  

There are three essay topics to choose from: 

1.  Saturn's small shepherd moon, Pan

2.  Saturn's F Ring

3.  Saturn

Students choose one of these topics and write an essay about why they think this image should be taken by the Cassini spacecraft.  What questions do they hope will be answered by taking this picture?

The essay contest meets U.S. National Science and Language Arts Standards.

For contest rules, videos about each essay topic, a downloadable contest flyer, frequently asked questions, and more information, visit:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/scientistforaday/

The contest deadline is Wednesday, October 24, 2012.  All essays must be submitted by the student's teacher.  If the essay contest is used as a class assignment, please send the top 3 essays from each class, along with a list of other students who wrote essays for the contest.

All students who write essays will receive a certificate of participation.  Winners and their classes will be invited to participate in a teleconference with Cassini scientists.  Winning essays will be posted on the Cassini website.

For questions about the contest, e-mail scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov

Good luck!

Best wishes,

The Cassini Outreach Team

scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.go

AES Engineering scholarship

AES Engineering
AES Engineering is pleased to be able to continue offering scholarships to motivated students to help in the furthering of their education.


Scholarship Criteria

Our belief is that achieving a high grade point average should not be the only criteria for determining who deserves to be helped. For that reason we are offering a scholarship that will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by evaluated the essays that are submitted.

Scholarships are intended for our future leaders across a wide spectrum of fields of study. This award is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post secondary educational facility.

You are not required to be taking Engineering courses to be eligible.

How to Apply

Students must submit an essay of no more than 1000 words in answer to the following question:
What are your dreams for your future? When you look back on your life in thirty years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful?

Amount of award: $500.00
Deadline for entry: October 5, 2012

Submit essay to: scholarships@aesengineers.com

There is no application packet for this award. Please do not include your resume at this time.

Be sure to include your full name as well as the name of the school you are attending this year and your plans for next year.

Seminole SECME End of Year 2012

PBAU Math and MODS VEX

Click on the first picture to flip through the photoalbum of Seminole Ridge SECME on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the Palm Beach Atlantic University mathematics and computer science competition. In Fort Lauderdale, Coach Landstrom, Bert Sivongsay, and Jesse Mendheim demonstrated VEX Robotics at the Museum of Discovery and Science.

Seminole Ridge students Samuel Smith, Mitch Vasquez, Jaret Rimel, Seham Ahmed, and Keith Miner participated in the 4th annual Palm Beach Atlantic University mathematics and computer science competition on Saturday, May 12, 2012. Nine high school teams from Boca Raton to Ft. Pierce attended the competition.

The team members are math whizzes from the school’s SECME engineering and MAθ (Mu Alpha Theta) math honor society. During the competition, students solved three sets of paper and pencil problems in algebra, trigonometry, statistics and pre-calculus problems using Texas Instruments graphing calculators.

The team from Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach was declared champion of the 3-hour competition. Atlantic’s 5-member winning team consisted of seniors Hayden Jansen (also winner of the Pathfinder Award in Mathematics), Michael Klionsky (Valedictorian), Gowri Nayar, Hanif Ahmed and Benny Tom. Atlantic’s winning team members won TI-Nspire graphing calculators and $375 in gift certificates to Best Buy. It was the second competition championship for Atlantic in the last three years of the competition.

Following Atlantic in 2nd place was the team from Suncoast Math/Science/Engineering (MSE) Magnet School. Seminole Ridge finished behind Suncoast and Atlantic High Schools, for a fourth place finish, and received $10 gift cards to Best Buy. Coach Ed Batchelor, math teacher for Algebra 2 and Geometry Honors, is proud of their honorable mention.

-----

Meanwhile, it was mechanical mayhem at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Ft. Lauderdale on May 12th as mentors and high school students from engineering programs teamed up for robotic demonstrations. Seminole Ridge students Bert Sivongsay and Jesse Mendheim showcased VEX Robotics, with the school's "The Iron Dragon v3" running a maze and manipulating Gateway game elements of barrels, balls, and rings.

Other teams from West Broward, American Heritage, and Cypress Bay showcased FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) shooting hoops in the "Rebound Rumble"

VEX and FIRST programs are designed to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2012

In the Winter 2012 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk'  newsletter

- SECME Hawks Are Circling Suncoast; Engineering Olympiad at Santaluces High on 2/25
- White House Science Fair a Blast for Blue Ribbon Winners Celebrating STEM Successes
- Seminole SECME helps students catch a wave during the Gotta Regatta
- Figure This! Every Second Counts When It’s Leap Day
- an essay excerpt from senior Caitlin Miller, Seminole SECME captain
- Hearing About Engineering in Boca this month
- The Blue Man Group is Making Waves at the Science Explorium
- XCKD.COMics “987—Potential”

PAGE 1

Click here to download the attached PDF copy of our Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011 issue

WBR Big Bang Theory's Mission Patch

Kyle's on crutches while he sat like that!
Thank you to junior Kyle Maglietta, artist and contortionist, who created this year's mission patch for the water rocket competition.



Each team will develop a patch design, used to symbolically commemorate the objectives of the mission. The team’s complete success will not solely be judged on rocket performance, but the combined effort of the team. Entries are judged on
Originality - Innovativeness of the design (30 points), Creativity - Uniqueness of the information depicted (30 points), Appearance - Attractiveness/neatness of the presentation (20 points), and Content - Representation of the team's name and SECME theme (20 points).

Water Bottle Rocket: In the middle of the patch is a rocket, split in half. On the right, it is a water rocket launched by compressed air and water, seen trailing a blue and white cloud. On the left, it is a conventional chemical launch vehicle, seen trailing red and orange flames, and grey clouds. The rocket is split to symbolize the present day and our future. The plan is we build rockets today, and tomorrow those STEM skills we gain in SECME help with what we want to be doing in the future. On the body of the water rocket side is written “HAWKS” for Seminole Ridge Community High School and our school’s mascot, the hawk.

The Big and Little Dipper: In the background are the star groups of the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. The asterism of the Big Dipper represents our SECME coordinators Mr. Landstrom and Mr. Batchelor. The Little Dipper represents the Seminole SECME students of 2011-2012 team.

SECME cyclone: In the lower right corner is the symbol of SECME, Inc., resembling a hurricane off the coast of Florida. A second SECME cyclone appears on the Moon to represent the first permanent lunar colony. The mission of SECME is to increase the pool of historically under-represented, under-served, and differently-abled students prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. SECME does this with project-based learning and hands-on competitions with model rockets, mousetrap racecars, and robots.

Earth and Moon: Earth is shown with the Florida peninsula prominent and a star to mark the location of Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee. The rocket is seen en route to the Moon, targeted for the lunar outpost. Above the horizon of the Earth, along the body of the rocket, and along the rim of the Moon’s limb is written the 2011-2012 Olympiad theme “SECME: Plan It – Build It – Live It!” This symbolically represents in order: planet (“plan it”), manmade object (“build it), moonbase (“live it”).

EngineerGirl! Essay Contest 2012 - Food Engineering

Dear EngineerGirl! Visitor:

We are pleased to announce the National Academy of Engineering’s EngineerGirl! website’s 12th annual Essay Contest. Students are asked to write about the role of engineering in providing safe and nutritious food.

Shopping at your local supermarket is a different experience today than it was even 50 years ago. Today the food we eat comes from around the world and is often already prepared in a wonderful variety of ways. Engineers are actively involved in every step of the process—they design the specialized machines used to plant and harvest crops and develop unique manufacturing processes to prepare, package, and transport foods in safe and secure ways.

Consider these popular foods:
- Applesauce
- Ice cream
- Peanut butter
- Potato chips
- Sandwich bread
- Spaghetti sauce

Grades 3-5: (No more than 500 words)
Choose one of the foods from the list and explain how it is produced, from the planting and harvesting of raw material to being ready to eat. Describe how engineers are involved in different steps of the process.

Grades 6-8: (No more than 750 words)
Choose one of the foods from the list and explain how it is produced, from the planting and harvesting of raw material to being ready to eat. Choose a technology critical to one or more steps in the process and explain how it works. Describe how different types of engineers (e.g. civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) might have contributed to the design of the technology as well as key elements of that design.

Grades 9-12: (No more than 1500 words)
Choose one of the foods from the list and explain how it is produced, from the planting and harvesting of raw material to being ready to eat. Choose a technology critical to one or more steps in that process and explain how it works. Describe how different types of engineers (e.g. civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) might have contributed to the design of the technology as well as key elements of that design. Talk about what engineers are currently doing to improve this technology. Be sure to include your references.

Details and rules can be found on the EngineerGirl! website: http://www.engineergirl.org/CMS/Contest/food2012.aspx. Participation is open to both girls and boys in grades 3-12 and submissions must be entered by 6:00 pm (EST) on March 1, 2012. All winning entries will be published on the EngineerGirl! website and winners will receive cash prizes: first place winners $500, second place winners $250, third place winners $100. The 2012 EngineerGirl! Essay Contest was made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

The EngineerGirl! website is designed to spark the curiosity of young people, girls in particular, and encourage them to consider careers in engineering. EngineerGirl! provides career descriptions, profiles of successful women engineers, information about exciting engineering projects, and interactive tools for girls, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors, all designed to encourage girls to pursue an engineering education and career. Launched in 2001, the site is visited by more than 18,000 unique visitors a month and has been featured by the Girl Scouts of America, the Society of Women Engineers, and local and national media in the United States and around the world. The #1 website on Google for “girls + engineering,” Engineer Girl! is a trusted and entertaining resource for young girls, parents, educators, and volunteer engineers involved in student outreach. In a 2011 poll, girls’ reported that viewing the EngineerGirl! website or participating in its annual essay contest caused 63% of them to consider a career in engineering and 81% to consider studying engineering in college. Please visit www.engineergirl.org to learn more.

We look forward to reading some exciting and creative essays and we hope you will help us to spread contest announcement. If you have questions, or seek clarification, please contact the EngineerGirl! team at engineergirl[at]nae[dot]edu.
Best,
Vickie
Victoria Gunderson, Ph.D.
Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow
National Academy of Engineering
vgunderson[at]nae[dot]edu

MATH GIRLS

MATH GIRLS is a YA novel, both teen romance & intro to higher mathematics; "like Glee for math nerds" said one reviewer. It's been translated from the Japanese by Bento Books.

It starts with a lonely female freshman on her first day of high school. Her escape is advanced mathematics. She tunes out the principal and starts think about her age as factorals (15 = 3x5, 16=2^4, 17 is a prime number). And then, she meets Miruka. And Tetra.

The math is good and the book covers a wide variety of topics in mathematics, from basics like how letters are assigned as variable names to quite challenging problems like finding a general term for the sequence of integer partition numbers.

Judge for yourself. The first two chapters available as a sample. Download the sample PDF here: Math Girls Chapters 1 & 2

President Obama to Address Students Sept. 28, 2011

As SECME students start another year of engineering excellence, President Barack Obama will deliver his third annual Back-to-School Speech at 1:30PM EDT on Wednesday, September 28, 2011.

The President’s Back-to-School Speech is an opportunity to speak directly to students across the country. In past years, President Obama has encouraged students to study hard and take responsibility for their education, urging students to set goals, to believe in themselves, and to be the authors of their own destinies.

The speech will be live streamed so that classrooms across the country may listen to or watch the remarks. For more information about watching the speech, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/back-to-school/

Related Post:
President Obama 1st Address to Students 2009

President Obama 2nd Address to Students 2010

Heard Any Good STEM lately?

Heard Any Good STEM lately?

I’ve recently discovered the “Engineering Works” podcast from Texas A&M University. The weekly look at the whimsical, unusually or just little- known sides to engineering, is now a favorite on my iPod. It’s smart, it’s short (around 2 minutes), and it’s silly enough that its seriousness isn’t lost. For example, the first podcast I listened to was “Golfing with Lobsters.” It is about how when dumping plastic in the ocean was banned, cruise ships turned to engineers. Turns out golfers can hit biodegradable balls made of crustaceans’ shells from the mid-deck driving range. And the next episode was “Easing your Aching Back,” so you know I was all ears. You can sample the podcast at http://engineeringworks.tamu.edu/ and “Engineering Works” is available for subscription through iTunes

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011

In the Winter 2011 issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter
- SECME Olympiad on February 26th
- US DOE National Science Bowl on February 19th
- FAU hosts Engineers Week event on February 22nd
- President Obama hosts White House Science Fair
- XKCD.COMic
- Figure This! Tournament Brackets math challenge
- SECME Spotlight on Tavo Lemos
- Childrens Science Explorium exhibits Eyes on Earth
- "Mayhem in Miami" as Seminole Ridge SECME finishes 2nd in VEX robotics competitions

Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2011 issue.

PAGE 1

WBR Mission Patch

Thank you to senior Brianne Codner, artist extraordinaire, who created the fantastic mission patch for this year's water bottle rocket team.

You can see the patch in greater detail in the website banner. Here are the details on the details:

Water Bottle Rocket: In the middle of the patch is a model rocket, launched by compressed air and water. The rocket is painted in our school’s colors of red and silver. On the body of the rocket is written “SRCHS HAWKS” for Seminole Ridge Community High School and our school’s mascot, the hawk, and it include a silhouette of a hawk’s head.

Brain: In the lower right corner is a human brain, with the brain stem merging with an entwined plant stem around the border. The brain depicts the mind of the SECME student. The brain is the seat of reason, responsible for learning, thinking, remembering, imagining and creating; all needed for success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But the mind is also responsible for emotions like friendship and positive attitude, which are needed for success in SECME and in life. Emerging from the brain is a SECME-style water bottle rocket.

SECME cyclone: In the upper right corner is the symbol of SECME, Inc. The mission of SECME is to increase the pool of historically under-represented, under-served, and differently-abled students prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. SECME does this with hands-on project-based learning to build and test balsawood bridges, mousetrap spring powered race cars, and model rockets.

Aquila: In the center left of the patch is the constellation of Aquila. Its name is Latin for “eagle.”Aquila represents the Seminole Ridge High mascot, the hawk. Altair is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and one of the closest stars visible to the naked eye. Altair is located 16.8 light years away. This means for a 16 year old high school student in SECME, that the light from Altair that a student today actually left the star around when the student was born, and has taken the student’s entire lifetime to reach Earth and stimulate our eyes.

Patch Border: Around the golden border of the patch is written this year’s theme of “SECME: STEMulating MINDS.” The border also features the silhouette of a hawk head, as the hawk is the mascot for our school.

Plant Stem on Patch Border: Entwined around the golden board is a green plant leafy stem, on which is carved “Seminole Ridge CHS.” Plant stems have four main functions which are:
- to transport water up against gravity between the roots and the shoots in the xylem and phloem, an example of SCIENCE.
- to produce new living tissue, just as in TECHNOLOGY manufacturing is a key consideration.
- to keep the leaves in the light and provide a place for the plant to keep its flowers and fruits, an example of biological ENGINEERING.
- to store nutrients, just as in MATHEMATICS numbers and symbols store arithmetic information.

Science is an adventure in which should participate

EarthSky – a clear voice for science – today announced the selection of E.O. Wilson as the 2010 EarthSky Science Communicator of the Year. EarthSky interviewed Dr. Wilson in Boston. Dr. Wilson told that science is an adventure, and that everyone can participate. Here’s is an excerpt:.

True Colors

True Colors isn't just about the SECME banner. True Colors is a model of personality identification.

Students bring a lot more than books and pencils into the classroom. They carry personal baggage as well. Students’ background, home life, and all of the constructive and disruptive forces in their lives affect their ability to learn. True Colors is a way to understand what makes each student tick, and how to help her or him to succeed. True Colors is based on Myers-Briggs and the Keirsey Temperament Theory and is congruent with other teaching/learning modalities used by the teaching profession. By using four colors: Gold, Blue, Green and Orange, with cards that depict the activities of the personality type, a word sort and online personality assessments, students of all ages and adults can determine who they are without having to remember complicated identity indicators.
In the True Colors spectrum, Gold indicates the more structured, disciplined, organized personality type. Many teachers and administrators are predominately Gold and the schools are organized around a “Gold standard”. Students of the Gold group usually do well in school and follow the rules appropriately. Gold students are comfortable within a highly structured environment.
The color Blue indicates the type of person who often thinks of relationships first and values relationships above all else. This group is primarily people-oriented. Blue students usually adapt well in the “normal” school environment, as long as they have the opportunity to relate to other people. For the Blue personality, relationship is the foundation through which academics filter into their personal space. In the general population 35% are Gold and 15% are Blue.
Green represents the more fact-oriented person – the student or adult who is usually asking “Why?” Greens question rules, regulations, and although they normally love to learn new information (they are often interested in science and math), they are not usually people or structure-oriented. Greens value teachers, structure and institutions as information repositories and thrives when encouraged in their perpetual pursuit of discovery.
The Orange people love action and have a very difficult time sitting still for long periods of time. They don’t like rules and much prefer initiating spontaneous activities in the moment without a lot of planning. Orange people can be quick to learn and are often very intelligent, but they are usually not very well adapted to the standard school environment. They prefer hands on discovery and learn through action and movement. They may have excellent mechanical skills and are often great at sports, drama, music, art, and other active, creative, competitive pursuits.
When each individual, whether they be a student, faculty, administrator, parent, business person, professional, politician, etc., understands their True Colors and has a grasp of the colors (personalities) of others, a more harmonious, productive and effective environment can be created. Teachers are able to present information that can be received by each personality type. Students better understand their teachers, their friends and family. They learn about their strengths and how to communicate with others. And by recognizing and embracing differences, they learn to work together effectively.

SCADs of Good News!

Brie Codner

congratulations to senior Brianne Codner. She received early acceptance to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) plus a $5,000.00 per year scholarship from them!

EngineerGirl! Essay Contest 2011 - Relief from a Disaster

The National Academy of Engineering sponsors an annual essay contest for precollege students dealing with the importance of engineering and its impact on our world. Boys and girls ages 8-18 compete for prizes up to $500, as well as an opportunity to publish their entries on the EngineerGirl! Website.

This year, the theme is "Engineering & Human Service – Relief from a Disaster." Flood, famine, earthquake, tsunami, oil spill, blackout, building collapse, mining accident, wildfire, hurricane, tornado, terrorist attack—all have been headline news in recent years. Disasters, both natural and man-made, can take many forms. Every disaster presents unique challenges and requires fast and decisive action to save lives and limit damages. Engineers are involved in designing many products specifically for use in disaster zones such as portable medical equipment, oil skimmers, or basic shelters. Identify an item designed specifically for use in disaster relief, and then do some research on it to write your essay.

Contestants must in 1500 words or fewer, describe an item that is used for disaster relief. Explain how it works. Point out key elements of the design and why it was designed that way. Describe how different types of engineers (e.g. civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) might have contributed to the final design of this product. Discuss the constraints designers faced in the creation of this product and potential changes/improvements needed if it were used in a different disaster relief scenario. Be sure to include your references.

You can find the announcement, guidelines, and related information about the contest on the EngineerGirl! website:
http://www.engineergirl.org/CMS/Contest.aspx

Entries must be received by 6:00 PM on March 1, 2011. Essays will be judged on the basis of creativity, feasibility, and usefulness of the design as well as the author’s ability to communicate ideas. All entries are read by a panel of judges, whose selections are final.

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2010

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2010

In the Fall 2010 issue of the Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" newsletter
- "Hawk"-tober at the Ridge: brainstorming bridges, banners, and bottle rockets
- Aviation engineering aces from Kimley-Horn and Associates speak at Seminole Ridge.
- Highlights from President Obama's 2nd annual back to school speech
- Figure This! math challenge on the long arm of Lady Liberty
- SECME Spotlight on Brian Bartels
- Be the Dinosaur at the Children's Science Explorium in Boca Raton
- Hawks win Miami VEX Round Up robotics tournament; qualify for 2011 World Championship
- Hawking Talk: Thank you to our sponsors Publix Super Market Charities

Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Fall 2010 issue.

PAGE 1

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Autumn 2010

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Autumn 2010

In this issue of the Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter
- SECME Design Seminars Are STEMulating Minds
- NASA and Mary J. Blige Encourage STEM Careers For Girls in new PSAs
- President Obama Remarks "Education is THE Economic Issue"
- Pew Public Poll of People's Predictions on Promise of Future
- Figure This! The Pigeonhole Principle Math Challenge
- SECME Spotlight on Mrs. Margarette Marturano
- From Grad to Gator: Guest speaker on being a BEng at UF
- VEX "Round Up" a robot rodeo

Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Autumn 2010 issue.
PAGE 1
PAGE 2

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Summer 2010

Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Summer 2010

In the Summer 2010 issue of the Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" newsletter
- Silver and Red: Seminole Ridge Hawks snatch silver during district engineering Olympiad
- Third Place Thriller: Piroli Wins for ‘Pipe World’
- DinoMight! Dinotopia at Norton Museum of Art this summer
- SECME Spotlight on Cindy Dosch
- SECME Student Shelby Weininger & Teacher Erich Landstrom Honored

Click here to download a PDF copy of our
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Summer 2010 issue.