Sashabaw Middle School students Ashton Krueger, Veronica Block, Caroline Blassick, and Phoebe Morris took on 60 teams from around the world in Future Problem Solvers’ world competition, June 1, at Michigan State University.
They beat them all.
‘I never thought it would happen,? Blassick said. ‘I was so excited, I couldn’t really think.”
‘It was crazy ? we were jumping up and down, our parents were crying,? Block said.
Judges in the International Conference Team Booklet Competition announced the top 10 in descending order. By the time nine teams were called to the stage for second-10th places, teammembers had their doubts.
‘I totally didn’t think we’d get first,? Morris said. ‘I thought we’d get close, but not first.?
Coach Sue Banworth kept the faith, though.
“They’re a well-oiled machine,? Banworth said. ‘The do what they need to do in two hours, divide and conquer the responsibilities. They’re great team members.”
In the competition, teams took two hours to write 11-page booklets presenting solutions to a problem of the future. This year’s topic was child labor. Their solution: an insect-size robot with cameras for eyes, a ‘bug inspector,? to keep an eye on things.
The team went through a six-stage problem-solving process, Banworth said.
“They’re quite a team,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with these girls.”
Training involved lots of practice problems, as they worked out how to research and write on deadline, she said.
‘Thinking of solutions to futuristic problems ? it makes you think ahead of what you know now,? Morris said.
When the team gets a problem, the first thing they do is brainstorm. Then comes research.
‘We take articles off the internet ? You Tube, Google, anything related to it,? Blassick said. ‘We look for good sources.?
After researching the topic thoroughly, they write for two hours, Banworth said.
Teams stayed in university dorm rooms during the four-day competition.
‘We made friends from around the world,? Morris said. ‘We started a volleyball game, and everyone came to play.?
The team won the state championship on April 20, earning them an invitation to the International Conference.
“Now they’re number one in the world,” Banworth said.
“More importantly, they possess problem solving skills that will last a lifetime.”
Next year’s topics have already been announced, including Olympic Games, Cyber Conflict, Space Junk, Counterfeit Economy, and Pandemic.
‘Intriguing,? said Blassick, already mulling over ideas.
‘We’d need futuristic technology to get junk out of space,? Krueger said.
‘The waste management of the future,? Blassick said.
Considering their own futures, Blassick and Block said they hope to become authors, fantasy novels for Blassick and realistic fiction for Block.
Krueger wants to be a basketball player. Morris said next year is far enough into the future for her.
‘I hope we get to internationals again next year,? Morris said. ‘We’re up to the challenge.?