More than 800 VBCPS students collaborated in teams at the 15th annual STEM Trifecta Challenge on May 15 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Approximately 60 schools participated in the event organized by the office of technical and career education to provide students with hands on educational experiences in science, technology, engineering and math(STEM).
Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson welcomed everyone before the competition began.
“You are putting your science and technology skills to the test,” he told them. “Explore, work together and have fun!”
The high school robotics competition involved programming a drone through an obstacle course, while the elementary and middle school teams programmed robots to do tasks.
As part of the cybersecurity competition, high school students became case agents investigating a cybersecurity incident. They analyzed evidence from sources to determine the cause. Elementary and middle school teams showcased micro bit prototypes designed to protect a control system from unauthorized access.
This year’s maker challenge asked teams to design and build wind turbines to produce as much renewable energy as possible. The goal was to contribute to the offshore wind industry developing off the Virginia Beach coast.
The Cooke Elementary “Soaring Seahawks” team said lots of testing went into their design. They determined using balsa wood was best for making the blades spin faster and six blades instead of three increased the energy output.
Team member Hunter Bennett said he enjoys being part of his school’s Trifecta team. “I like figuring things out,” the fifth grader said. “It’s like some wires in my brain connect.”
Tallwood High graduate CJ Mainor was among the Trifecta visitors. He watched as his sister Grace, a Bayside Elementary fourth grader, operated her team’s robot in the competition.
Grace gained so much while preparing for the Trifecta, he said. “She has learned teamwork, cooperation, coding, trial and era, determination and persistence.”
Office of Technical and Career Education Director Dr. Sara Lockett said conversations with volunteer judges who work in the industry help students make connections with career possibilities in the region.
“The STEM Trifecta allows all students involved in after-school learning to showcase their work and their skills for business partners in our community,” Lockett said.
Newport News Shipbuilding’s STEM mobile experience trailer was on site. On the outside of the trailer were the words “learn, lead, transform,” an inspiring message for the elementary, middle, and high school teams who had worked hard to prepare for challenges in robotics, maker and cyber security.
Many of the teams visited the trailer to see firsthand how technology has transformed the shipbuilding industry.
Nuclear engineer Robert Padgett introduced them to a Packbot robot.
“We build ships,” Padgett told them. “Why in the world do we build robots?”
He explained how the mobile robot with a thermal camera can be used for emergency services.
“This guy can go into places that aren’t really accessible to humans,” he said. For example, it could be used to enter and access situations, such as a fire or gas leak.
Students were put to work inside the trailer.
New Castle Elementary fifth grader Izaiah Clark fixed a hole in a tank on a ship and put out a fire in a trashcan, all by wearing virtual reality training glasses. “It was cool,” he said.
Virginia Beach Middle School sixth graders Jouvens Vital and Lexyn Gordon put together a water valve by following a three-dimensional step by step instructional video.
Fourth grade teacher Sierra Cook watched student Brooklyn Johnson use a training tool to simulate and practice welding. “You have to have your hand really steady,” said Brooklyn, a Hermitage Elementary fifth grader.
“It’s super cool to see some of the real-use applications of the skills,” Cook said.
2024 STEM Trifecta Team Winners:
Robotics
Elementary School:
- Corporate Landing “Bad Bots”
- Corporate Landing “Robo Queens”
- Corporate Landing “Cobra Kai”
Middle School:
- Corporate Landing “Dave”
- Salem “Shark Industries 2”
- Corporate Landing “Harold”
High School:
- Princess Anne “Princess Anne High School”
- Advanced Technology Center “Intellekt”
- Tallwood “Crunchy Rice”
Cybersecurity
Elementary:
- Corporate Landing “Watermelon Engineers”
- Shelton Park “The Coding Crew”
- Three Oaks “Coding Rats”
Middle School:
- Larkspur “Acevedo’s Aces”
- Larkspur “Tech Wizards”
- Larkspur “Cyber Dudes”
High School:
- Kempsville “BGEES”
- Advanced Technology Center “Port Boys”
- Kempsville “Whomp Whompers”
Maker Expo Offshore Wind Challenge
Elementary:
- Three Oaks “Wind Wolves”
- Cooke “Soaring Seahawks”
- Three Oaks “Electric Wolves”
Middle:
- Great Neck “Windgineers”
- Salem “Swift-Salem Sharks”
- Lynnhaven “The Spinners”
High School:
- Ocean Lakes “Turbine Twisters”
- Advanced Technology Center “RET 1”
- Advanced Technology Center “Lil Turbies”
