Three Local High School Teams Awarded Prizes at 10th Annual AFRL Challenge Competition at Griffiss Institute

ROME, NY — The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), in partnership with the Griffiss Institute (GI), are proud to have hosted the 10th Annual AFRL Challenge Competition, as one of their joint STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives. The weeklong program was once again “Powered by AT&T.”

AT&T

The 2018 Challenge Competition began Monday, April 23, 2018, and ended on Friday, April 27, at Griffiss Institute, in Rome, New York.

Eight area high schools participated in the 2018 Challenge:

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 Ian Kohli

Teacher: Albert Bangs

 

Sauquoit Valley High School

Students: Danielle Mangini and Chris Mazza

Teacher: Michael Eisinger

 

Thomas R. Proctor High School

Students: Toan Phan and Luis Terron

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

2nd place: New York Mills Union Free School: Abbey Copperwheat; Angela Chen; and teacher Michael Eramo

While all eight teams were recognized for their hard work and efforts, three teams stood out and were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place titles.

The winners of the 10th Annual 2018 AFRL Challenge Competition were:

  • 1st Place: Reid Burkdorf and Maheen Qureshi, Whitesboro Central School
  • 2nd Place: Angela Chen and Abbey Copperwheat, New York Mills Union Free School
  • 3rd Place: Danielle Mangini and Chris Mazza, Sauquoit Valley High School

 

Reid and Maheen will be interning at AFRL/RI over the summer of 2018, while Angela and Abbey will intern at the GI. All three of the winning teams received Microsoft Surface Pro’s, and the remaining five teams all took home $100 Amazon gift cards.

3rd place: Sauquoit Valley High School Mills: Teacher Michael Eisinger; Danielle Mangini; and Chris Mazza

The Challenge Competition is an annual competitive STEM initiative for local high school students. It was 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”.

This year’s challenge was developed by the Cyber, and Connectivity & Dissemination Operations Divisions of ARFL/RI.

The teams received the challenge problem upon arrival Monday morning, and had four days to solve it. AFRL/RI engineers and scientists were on hand to answer questions regarding the challenge problem throughout the week.

The students, who participated in the competition, worked for an entire week to solve the challenge problem. Many found that it was the first time they had ever had a problem to solve that encompasses what they learn in every academic area in school, from politics, to English, to math and science.

Also for many of the participants, being able to spend a week bouncing ideas off local engineers was an incredible benefit and opportunity.

It gave many of the participants a new perspective on the field of engineering and they got to learn a more about the work that takes place at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, and the Griffiss Institute.

On Friday, April 27, 2018, 8:00 am, competition judging began, followed by a poster session, luncheon at noon, and awards ceremony at 12:45 pm, where local dignitary, Senator Joseph Griffo, parents and friends, and staff from local tech companies, were on hand to support, congratulate, and recognize these technology leaders of tomorrow.

The judges for this year’s competition were:

  • James Cusack, Principal Engineer, Griffiss Institute
  • Dr. Don Hanson, Former Director, Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Kevin Hanna, Director of External Affairs, AT&T

This event was made possible by the generosity of the following sponsors: AT&TNYSTECMohawk Valley EDGECUBRC, and The Savoy.

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Due to the severe weather conditions and state of emergency declared by the City of Rome, Rome Labs & Innovare Advancement Center will be closed on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. This closure affects all Griffiss Institute staff, residents, guests, and program participants, including STEM campers, interns, visiting faculty, fellows, and incubator clients. We will resume normal business hours of operation on July 18, 2024.

If you are impacted by the tornado and need assistance please call 211 or text 898-211, the United Way of Mohawk Valley can assist you with proper resources during this time. www.211midyork.com