This year’s weeklong STEM initiative graciously “Powered by AT&T”
ROME, NY — The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), in partnership with the Griffiss Institute (GI), is proud to host the 10th Annual AFRL Challenge Competition, as one of their joint STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives. Both, AFRL/RI and the GI, are pleased to announce that the weeklong program will once again be “Powered by AT&T.”
The 2018 AFRL Challenge Competition begins Monday, April 23, 2018, and will end on Friday, April 27, at Griffiss Institute, 725 Daedalian Drive, Rome, New York.
The Challenge Competition is an annual competitive STEM initiative for local high school students. It is held during a week when students are on a school break and its intent is to provide a more realistic view into the types of high tech problems the nation is facing today, and how engineers and researchers go about dissecting and solving these problems. The best explanation to describe the competition is “mental marathon”.
The teams will receive the challenge problem upon arrival Monday morning, and have the next four days to solve it. AFRL/RI engineers and scientists will be on hand to answer questions regarding the challenge problem throughout the week.
For many of the participants, being able to spend a week bouncing ideas off local engineers will be an incredible benefit and opportunity.
The AFRL Challenge Competition gives many of the participants a new perspective on the field of engineering and they get to learn more about the work that takes place at both, the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, and the Griffiss Institute.
The winners of the competition will be awarded paid summer internships, as well as other prizes.
On Friday, April 27, 2018, at 8:00 am, competition judging will begin, followed by a luncheon at noon, and an awards ceremony at 12:45 pm, where parents and local dignitaries will be on hand to support, congratulate, and recognize these technology leaders of tomorrow.
“This year’s challenge is being developed by the Cyber, and Connectivity & Dissemination Operations Divisions. It looks to be a very interesting challenge with real world learning opportunities for the participants,” says Jeff DeMatteis, the AFRL/RI STEM Outreach Coordinator.
The area high schools participating in the 2018 Challenge are:
Central Valley Academy
Students: Dakota Turk and Dale Windecker
Teacher: Wes Laurion
Frankfort-Schuyler Central School
Students: Roman Shikula and John Tofani
Teacher: Christopher Snell
New York Mills Union Free School
Students: Angela Chen and Abbey Copperwheat
Teacher: Michael Eramo
Rome Free Academy
Students: Chris Incorvaia and Cameron Kilpatrick
Teacher: Albert Bangs
Sauquoit Valley High School
Students: Danielle Mangini and Chris Mazza
Teacher: Michael Eisinger
Thomas R. Proctor High School
Students: Luis Terron and Gu Ku
Teacher: Saing Ung
Westmoreland Central School
Students: Karsten Bratge and Stephen Foley
Teacher: Nick Darrah
Whitesboro Central School
Students: Reid Burkdorf and Maheen Qureshi
Teacher: Stephen Costanza
With AT&T’s significant support of this year’s competition, AFRL/RI and GI will be able to enhance the challenge and provide participating students a more rewarding and educational opportunity. In addition to providing a more immersive and real-world experience for the students, AT&T’s support will help the organizers grow the prize levels and educational resources provided during the week.
The support for the Challenge Competition grows out of AT&T’s commitment to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is the company’s signature $350 million philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism and mentoring.