ENGLEWOOD — Students from Henderson Elementary won first place at a regional STEM Design Challenge competition late last week.
The school, at 5650 S. Wolcott Ave., won the bridge building contest at the CPS Network 11's 2nd Annual competition.
While Henderson placed first, Mays and Fort Dearborn took second and third, respectively. Randolph and Sherwood won first and second places for following all technical specifications of the bridge contest.
Network 11 includes 32 schools, including four STEM elementary schools.
The event took place Friday at Miles Davis Magnet Academy, 6740 S. Paulina St. Twenty-eight elementary schools participated in the Bridge Building Design Challenge.
Each school was represented by four students spanning from 4th to 8th grades. Students were given a build challenge on the spot and were expected to follow the engineering design process to build a bridge with certain specifications.
Cook Elementary students participated in Network 11's 2nd Annual STEM Design Challenge. [Provided/Megan Hougard]
Twenty-eight out of 32 elementary schools participated in Network 11's 2nd Annual STEM Design Challenge. [Provided/Megan Hougard]
Each team was judged on teamwork, creativity and the structural efficiency of their bridges, network officials said.
"The challenge required critical thinking skills and students were observed to experience frustration, but persevered and thought creatively in completing the project," network officials said in a statement. "As administrators and teachers, it was thoroughly encouraging to witness out students continue to work until they succeeded."
