E-Week Poster Contest "Leaders by Design"

Engineers Week 2010
February 14-20, 2010

The Palm Beach Chapter of the
Florida Engineering Society Presents
the 3rd Annual
E-WEEK POSTER CONTEST
“Leaders by Design”

Awards
Given per division*
1st Place Award—$50
2nd Place Award—$25
Overall winner along with parents will be special guests at the Engineers Week
Banquet and the winning entry will appear on the cover the banquet program

Judging
Based on Clarity of Message, Conveying the Theme, Attracting Attention, Artistic Merit and Neatness

For more information contact:
Olive Bailey, EI vicepresident[at]pbfes[dot]org
Jim Kunard, PE pastpresident[at]pbfes[dot]org

Deadline to submit all artwork is Friday, January 22nd and should be submitted to:
Jim Kunard, PE
Department of Facilities Services—Summit
By Interoffice Mail (Pony)

Rules and Entry Form
1. Posters should be no larger than 11" X 17" nor smaller than 8 ½” x 11”.
2. Media may be cut paper, poster paints, India ink, string, spatter work, charcoal drawings or any suitable art materials. Generally, crayons and colored pencils do not present well.
3. Annual theme must be on the poster: “Engineers, Leaders by Design.”
4. Name of student, name of school, mailing address of school, grade level of student, parent’s name and address should be typed or printed on a 3 X 5 card. This card should be attached on the back of the poster in lower right-hand corner.
5. Posters that do not meet all contest requirements will be eliminated.
6. All posters need to be received no later than January 22, 2010. Posters received after this date will not qualify.
7. Posters should not be laminated.
8. Posters MUST be the student’s original work, not computer generated.
Please complete this entry form and submit with your artwork


Visit the Palm Beach Chapter online at www.pbfes.org

The newest fashion trend: Seminole SECME gear at Cafe Press

http://www.cafepress.com/seminolesecme
Shirts, hats, and mugs are now available with the "Thinking Out of the Box" theme.

Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" Winter 2008 newsletter

In the Winter 2008 issue of Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk"

- President-Elect Obama puts science at the top of the agenda
- SECME Secondary Olympiad competition for Palm Beach County on 3/7
- SECME Spotlight: Ramiek Campbell
- SECME fundraiser film on 1/28 "Robots"
- Skills for Success at design seminar

Click here to download a PDF issue of the
Seminole SECME 'Hawk Talk' newsletter Winter 2008 issue.

Movie Matinee at Seminole Ridge High School on Wed., Jan 28, 2009

Let us be first to ask your help in the first of the year to be FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

Last month, President-Elect Barack Obama issued a call in his weekly address to support science education, “because the highest purpose of science is the search for knowledge, truth and a greater understanding of the world around us.” Let us be first to ask your help in the first of the year to be FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

“Today, more than ever before,” said Mr. Obama, “science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation. It is time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore America’s place as the world leader in science and technology. Right now, in labs, classrooms and companies across America, our leading minds are hard at work chasing the next big idea, on the cusp of break-throughs that could revolutionize our lives. But history tells us that they cannot do it alone.”

Engaging students in math, science, and technology is one of the most important factors in creating tomorrow's workforce. This is of particular importance in America, where math and science education is lagging behind other countries, leaving our nation trailing. At Seminole Ridge High School, the SECME club has undertaken several projects to combat this problem, with projects to promote excellence in engineering.

For 2009, SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) is facilitating a low-cost, high impact robotics program that will encourage more students to continue their education beyond high school and ultimately to choose science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related careers. In this highly engaging after-school program, students collaborate with their teachers and industry leaders, using their skills and knowledge in science, math, engineering, and technology to configure high-tech robotics to meet a preset series of tasks.

This is the type of program that builds interest from the ground up. Students acquire a ‘can do spirit’ and they get an opportunity to learn from their mentors and motivators in ways that build confidence and pride in their accomplishments. The VEX Robotics Design System starter kit contains everything students need to design a robot, with vast creative possibilities. This valuable project requires significant funding—each kit costs $700 – and is entirely supported by student fundraising and your donations. The teams will have eight weeks to design, build and practice maneuvering their robots before shipping them off to Embry-Riddle University in late March.

As our sponsor, you are invited to the kickoff and to follow along with a team of teenagers as they work side-by-side with professional engineers and technicians, parents and teachers. Through their mentoring, the students learn about the field of engineering and gain knowledge and experience in teamwork, time management, task sequencing and computers.

At Seminole Ridge High School, we’ll mark the beginning of 2009 with our vision firmly focused on the future, and the work that lies ahead of us. President-elect Obama finished his remarks on December 17th saying, “I am confident that if we recommit ourselves to discovery, if we support science education to create the next generation of scientists and engineers right here in America; if we have the vision to believe and invest in things unseen, then we can lead the world into a new future of peace and prosperity.”

Please support science education by making a generous new year donation now! Our mission is critical, our work is essential, and we look to those to whom our work matters most. We hope very much that you will be able to say “yes” to our appeal in any amount you can afford, and will truly appreciate whatever you can give. Please consider contributing most generously today.

Help us reach our goal before February 28th by making your checks out to:
Seminole SECME, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Loxahatchee FL 33470

Thank you for your support! If there is some way you can help us, or if you would like further information, please comment in the section below.

Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" newsletter Fall 2008

In the fall 2008 issue of Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk"
- RU VEXed by Robots?
- Florida Engineering Society Speaker on October 29th
- SECME fundraising film on November 19th "WALL-E"
- SECME Spotlight: Kaitlin Kilpatrick

Click here to download a PDF issue of the
Seminole SECME "Hawk Talk" newsletter Fall 2008 issue.

2008-2009 SECME IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Brief history of the school’s SECME program.

Seminole SECME began in August 2007 under the coordination of Erich Landstrom (previously coordinator at Boynton Beach Community High School).

Erich Landstrom received a Citibank Success Fund Grant of $841 to launch his Rocket POWER (Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading) program. During Rocket POWER, SECME students at Seminole Ridge read and discussed the special talents and training necessary to become a rocket scientist. They were then be challenged to design, construct, fly and recover handmade, high-powered model rockets with two “egg-stronauts” onboard.

The Citibank Success Fund awards cash grants to support innovative classroom learning projects that encourage at-risk students to succeed in academics and stay in school. These funds, awarded by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and Citibank, allow educators to develop innovative, easily replicable, grassroots programs, providing students with an opportunity to succeed and to associate that success with continued school attendance. Landstrom received the grant check during a dinner reception on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. The money was spent on books and rocket construction supplies.

During weekly meetings of an after-school SECME Club (Science, Engineering, Communication and Mathematics Enhancement), students read from non-fiction, how-to books on model rocketry, including The Handbook of Model Rocketry and Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the autobiographical reminiscences of Homer Hickam, Jr. whose life was influenced by rocketry.

SECME students then designed, constructed, and flew their own high-powered model rocket. This rocket, with a payload of two raw Grade-A large eggs, must reach a specific altitude of 750 feet and return undamaged to the ground within 45 seconds.

Seminole SECME competed in its first district Olympiad along with approximately 250 secondary students from Palm Beach County middle and high schools on Saturday, March 29 at John I. Leonard High School from 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders was the theme of this year’s SECME competition for students interested in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. The club returned with several honors in their inaugural outing:

• In the category of Balsawood Bridge Building, Liz Camp (l) and Vicki Glass’s (r) structure held 68 pounds before breaking.
• In the category of Water Bottle Rocket, Nick Moore’s and T.J. Gipe’s rocket was airborne for 7.8 seconds.
• In the category of Brain Bowl, the Hawks fell to second-place winners Forest Hill High School.
• Kelsey Chase (essay) and Kaitlin Kilpatrick (poster) earned honors for submissions on the theme “Lighting the Torch to Empower Future Leaders.”

On Saturday, April 26, 2008 SECME students Marlon Alfonso, Ed Bachelor, Kyle Cuthbert and Rob Ponga were entrants in the “Drop It, Build It, Fly It, Launch It” competition at the South Florida Science Museum. More than 150 students from Palm Beach County competed in four competitions:
• Drop It: design a package to protect a raw egg from cracking after a three-story freefall;
• Build It: design an “unbreakable” bridge out of balsa wood;
• Fly It: design the ultimate paper airplane;
• Launch It: blast off a two-liter bottle rocket lofted by compressed air.

From June 21 to June 29, 2008, Erich Landstrom attended the 32nd annual SECME summer institute teacher academy at Tuskegee University.

SECME members on a mission to build robots

SECME members on a mission to build robots
By JASON PARSLEY | Forum Publishing Group
November 26, 2008

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/royal_palm/sfl-flrpfrobot1126rpfnov26,0,4093472.story

Seminole Ridge High School seniors Madelyn Gapko and Nadia Beni both like hands-on projects, and that is why they decided to join the newly formed Science, Engineering, Communications and Mathematics club at the school, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, in Loxahatchee.

The SECME Club allows students to apply what they learn in classes like physics to the real world. So far it has attracted about 60 members.

"It's a good way for me to learn," Gapko said.

While Beni added, "[The hands-on] is mostly what we do, but it's the best part."

The club recently had a movie afternoon to raise funds to purchase at least one Vex Robotics Design System kit so students will have the opportunity to build actual robots.

"This isn't here's a Lego kit, lets see if we can build something," said Erich Landstrom, SECME school coordinator and physics teacher. Over the summer he was introduced to the starter kit and said, "We literally went from a box of parts to two hours later we had built a radio-controlled robot."

Landstrom said he is excited to add the robotics component to the club.

"This is definitely something I want the Seminole Hawks to do," he said.

But first the club needs to raise the money to purchase the $700 kit. The club's next fundraiser will be another movie afternoon in January.

With the kit Landstom said he hopes that his students will be able to enter a robotics competition next year. This year's competition will ask students to build a robot that is able to travel up a ramp and be able to operate independently and by user control.

"My hope, my goal would be to go to the national competition," he said.

So far the club has designed and launched a film-canister model rocket, and constructed a spaghetti bridge from pasta and mini marshmallows.

Call 561-422-2600 for more information.

Seminole Ridge science teacher Mr. Erich Landstrom will receive a Citibank Success Fund Grant of $841 to launch his Rocket POWER (Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading) program. During Rocket POWER, students at Seminole Ridge will read and discuss the special talents and training necessary to become a rocket scientist. They will then be challenged to design, construct, fly and recover handmade, high-powered model rockets with two “egg-stronauts” onboard.

The Citibank Success Fund awards cash grants to support innovative classroom learning projects that encourage at-risk students to succeed in academics and stay in school. These funds, awarded by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and Citibank, allow educators to develop innovative, easily replicable, grassroots programs, providing students with an opportunity to succeed and to associate that success with continued school attendance. Landstrom will receive the grant check during a dinner reception on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the West Palm Beach Marriott. The money will be spent on books and rocket construction supplies.

During weekly meetings of an after-school SECME Club (Science, Engineering, Communication and Mathematics Enhancement), students will read non-fiction, how-to books on model rocketry, including The Handbook of Model Rocketry and Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the autobiographical reminiscences of children whose lives were influenced by rocketry.

SECME students will then design, construct, and fly their own high-powered model rocket. This rocket, with a payload of two raw Grade-A large eggs, must reach a specific altitude of 750 feet and return undamaged to the ground within 45 seconds.

Rocket POWER hopes to:

• Spark enthusiasm for careers in aerospace among students;

• Curb dropout prevention by demonstrating the practical application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics;

• Provide positive outcomes while enjoying reading;

• Deliver foundational knowledge of aerospace principles in math and geometry, in sciences ranging from physics to meteorology, and engineering.

R U VEXed by Robots?

Engaging students in math, science, and technology is one of the most important factors in creating tomorrow's workforce. This is of particular importance in America, where math and science education is lagging behind other countries, leaving our nation trailing in the number of engineers produced each year. At Seminole Ridge High School, the SECME club has undertaken several projects to combat this problem, along with other projects to promote excellence in engineering.

At the annual SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication and Math Excellence) Regional Competition, over 200 high school students square off in engineering contests to team design and test vehicles powered by mousetraps, bridges that withstand pressure testing, water bottle rockets that were launched and evaluated for distance, general knowledge games with the "Brain Bowl," and in literary and artistic competitions with essays, mission patches, banners, and posters.

For the 2008-2009, SECME is facilitating a low-cost, high impact robotics program that will encourage more students to continue their education beyond high school and ultimately to choose science-, technology-, engineering-, and mathematics-related careers. In this highly engaging after-school program, students collaborate with their teachers and industry leaders, using their skills and knowledge in science, math, engineering, and technology to configure high-tech robotics to meet a preset series of tasks.

This is the type of program that builds interest from the ground up. Students acquire a ‘can do spirit’ and they get an opportunity to learn from their mentors and motivators in ways that build confidence and pride in their accomplishments. The VEX Robotics Design System starter kit contains everything students need to design a robot, with vast creative possibilities. This valuable project requires significant funding—each kit costs $321 – and is entirely supported by student fundraising and your donations.

The SECME school coordinators would greatly appreciate any contribution you and your business can provide. All gifts are recognized. Please consider contributing $321 and help us reach our goal before November 30th by making a donation to: Seminole Ridge High School SECME

I hope very much that you will be able to say “yes” to our appeal, and will truly appreciate whatever you can give.