Awards – Page 4 – The Energy Chronicle

Space Coast Community Celebrates Its 21st Year Recognizing Exemplary Science Teachers

Sherri Shields Awards August 23, 2019April 20, 2020 1 Comment

Cocoa, Fla., August 19, 2019—Six outstanding science teachers received the distinguished Exemplary Science Teacher Award from the Space Coast Science Education Alliance (SCSEA) on August 15 at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). The award is given in recognition of Brevard County teachers who go above and beyond to inspire their students to love learning science.

“When SCSEA started this program 21 years ago, it was to encourage exemplary science teachers to keep up their great work, and for the community to say thank you for the sacrifices that teachers and their families make. That goal remains the same,” said Susan Schleith, SCSEA Treasurer and FSEC educator. “Our outstanding science teachers are the key reason Brevard is among the top Florida school districts in science education.”

2019 EnergyWhiz Awards

Sherri Shields Awards May 21, 2019August 23, 2019 0 Comment

EnergyWhiz

The 2019 EnergyWhiz was held on May 4, 2019 at the FSEC Energy Research Center (aka Florida Solar Energy Center) in Cocoa, FL. Below are the results from all of the competitions.

Critter Comfort Cottage

Elementary Division

1^st Place – Cateepee (Cat) – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

2^nd Place – Night Time Party Animals (Sunfire Djungarian Hamster) – Piedmont Lakes Middle, Apopka

3^rd Place – Marvelous Macaws (Macaw) – Global Prospective School, West Palm Beach

Middle School Division

1^st Place – Ecclectical Engineers (Key Largo Woodrat) – Innovation Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Duo (Long Tailed Chinchilla) – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – The Happy Hedwigs (Owl) – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

WOW! Award Elementary Division

Night Time Party Animals (Sunfire Djungarian Hamster) – Piedmont Lakes Middle, Apopka

WOW! Award Middle Division

The Happy Hedwigs (Owl) – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

WOW! Award High School Division

Launch Institute (Rabbit) – Space Coast Jr/Sr High, Cocoa

Energy Innovations

Middle School Division

1^st Place – Lil Mil (Solar Hydroponics) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – MAGS (Modular Automated Garden System) – Lyman High, Longwood

WOW! Award Middle School Division

Lil Mil (Solar Hydroponics) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Energy Transfer Machine

Elementary Division

1^st Place – Quadruple Trouble – Heathrow Elementary, Lake Mary

2^nd Place – The Solar Knights – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Sproating Duo – Rock Springs Elementary, Apopka

Middle School Division

1^st Place – The Energy Engineers – The Benjamin School & The Conservatory School, North Palm Beach

2^nd Place – Energy Kids – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – RCSAM Double Trouble – River City Science Academy at Mandarin, Jacksonville

Precision Award – Quadruple Trouble – Heathrow Elementary, Lake Mary

Junior Solar Sprint

Best Design – Green Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – E.R. Solar Storm – NSU University School, Davie

2^nd Place – Checkers or Wreckers – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

3^rd Place – Solar Sculz – McLane Middle, Brandon

Best Design – Blue Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Solar Lightning – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Milwee RAC – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Solar Broncos – Southwest Middle, Palm Bay

Most Innovative Green Division

1^st Place – Checkers or Wreckers – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

2^nd Place – Speed is Key – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

3^rd Place – Beetle Bullets – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

Most Innovative Blue Division

1^st Place – Milwee RAC – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Solar Broncos – Southwest Middle, Palm Bay

Race – Green Division

1^st Place – Engilogical – Walker Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Vibot 1 – McLane Middle, Brandon

3^rd Place – Rocket League – South Sumter Middle

Race – Blue Division

1^st Place – The Red Speedsters – Martinez Middle, Lutz [video]

2^nd Place – Shelby Racing – McLane Middle, Brandon

3^rd Place – Solar Sculz – McLane Middle, Brandon

AEOP Award

Engilogical – Walker Middle, Orlando

Solar Energy Cook-Off

Best Design – Yellow Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Totally Tubular – Martinez Middle, Lutz

2^nd Place – Blaze – Martinez Middle, Lutz

3^rd Place – ‘Soul’ar Cookers – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

Best Design – Orange Division (Grades 7 – 8)

1^st Place – Ramsey’s Son & Friends – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Bears 2 – Ben Hill Middle, Tampa

3^rd Place – Chef Sol – Grandview Preparatory School, Boca Raton

Best Design – Red Division (Grades 9 – 12)

2^nd Place – The Hot Pockets – Lyman High, Longwood

WOW! Award Yellow Division

Totally Tubular – Martinez Middle, Lutz

WOW! Award Orange Division

Chef Sol – Grandview Preparatory School, Boca Raton

Culinary Award – Yellow Division

1^st Place – The Solar Six – Meadow Park Elementary, West Palm Beach

2^nd Place – ‘Soul’ar Cookers – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

3^rd Place – Solar Flare – Meadow Park Elementary, West Palm Beach

Culinary Award – Orange Division

1^st Place – Chef Sol – Grandview Preparatory School, Boca Raton

2^nd Place – Solar Sensation – Hidden Oaks Elementary, Palm City

3^rd Place (Tie) – Girls on Fire – River City Science Academy at Mandarin, Jacksonville

3^rd Place (Tie) – Ramsey’s Son & Friends – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Culinary Award – Red Division

1^st Place – The Hot Pockets – Lyman High, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Yellow Division

‘Soul’ar Cookers – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

Fresh From Florida Award Orange Division

Ramsey’s Son & Friends – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Photographs

Photo galleries of the events can be seen here: https://fsec.zenfolio.com/ew2019

Space Coast Education Community Celebrates Its 20th Year Recognizing Exemplary Science Teachers

Sherri Shields Awards, Press Release August 17, 2018August 17, 2018 6 Comments

COCOA, Fla., August 17, 2018 — The University of Central Florida congratulates seven outstanding science teachers who received the distinguished Exemplary Science Teacher Award from the Space Coast Science Education Alliance (SCSEA) on August 7 at UCF’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). The award is given in recognition of Brevard County teachers who continually go above and beyond the norm to educate their students in science.

The 2018 SCSEA Exemplary Science Teacher award winners are Michelle M. Berry, Endeavour Elementary; Roger Cohen, Gemini Elementary; Jennifer Cotton, Titusville High; Jeffrey Higginbotham, Rockledge High; Angela Lambert, Harbor City Elementary; Aaron Mitchell, Bayside High; and, Tammie Rutkowski, Riviera Elementary. Roger Cohen and Tammie Rutkowski were also inducted into the Exemplary Science Teacher Hall of Fame, as this was their second award.

Photo of 2018 Exemplary Science Teachers and Brevard County administrators — Pictured from left to right (teachers are holding their awards) are: Loren Kingsley, District Secondary Science Resource Teacher; Aaron Mitchell (Bayside High); Jeffrey Higginbotham (Rockledge High); Jennifer Cotton (Titusville High); Tammie Rutkowski (Riviera Elementary); Angela Lambert (Harbor City Elementary); Dr. Mark Mullins, BCPS Superintendent; Michelle Berry (Endeavour Elementary); Michelle Ferro, Elementary Science Content Specialist, and Roger Cohen (Gemini Elementary).

New BCPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins presented the unusual “awards” that drew much excitement from the recipients. Each teacher received a Triceratops fossil that had been carefully mounted as a display piece by the Academy of Natural History Preparation, a nonprofit science education organization located in Rockledge. In addition to the elegant banquet provided by Renaissance Catering, each teacher received an honorarium and a one-year membership to a science education organization, such as the Florida Association of Science Teachers.

The inaugural SCSEA Exemplary Science Teacher awards banquet was held in 1999 at FSEC. “When we started this program 20 years ago, it was to encourage exemplary science teachers to keep up the great work and for the Space Coast community to say thank you for the sacrifices that teachers and their families make. That goal remains the same,” said Susan Schleith, SCSEA Treasurer and FSEC K-12 Education Program Director. The great science teachers that we have in Brevard are a key reason Brevard is among the top Florida school districts in science.

“The importance our businesses, industry and other organizations place on science makes Brevard County a very special place to live and work”, said Ginger Davis, retired BPCS Science Coordinator and SCSEA Vice President. That was evidenced by the numerous sponsors from across the Space Coast that made the awards program and banquet possible. Gold sponsors were Brevard Zoo, Canaveral Council of Technical Societies, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida Solar Energy Center, Lockheed Martin, STEMScopes Florida and the Viera Company. Silver sponsors were Academy of Natural History Preparation, Discovery Education, Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and McGraw-Hill.

A new award, the Informal Science Educator Award of Excellence in tribute of Elizabeth Melvin was also announced at the dinner by Jennifer Thompson. Brevard County is known for strong science education outside of the formal classroom, too. Organizations like Brevard County Parks and Recreation, Keep Brevard Beautiful and the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department, where Mrs. Melvin last worked, contribute greatly to science literacy.

The evening had other special moments including recognition of Suzanne Leslie, retired from the Eastern Florida State College Planetarium and Observatory, for her support of the Exemplary Science Teacher Awards Program. For well over ten years the awards banquet had been held at the Planetarium in Cocoa, which is closed and may not re-open due to hurricane damage. John Latherow, who recently retired from Satellite High and who is a past Hall of Fame winner was recognized for his years of service and was invited to continue to inspire others by becoming a member of the Space Coast Science Education Alliance.

The SCSEA is a nonprofit representing organizations and individuals who work together to improve scientific education and STEM literacy in Brevard County. For more information about the Exemplary Science Teacher Awards or SCSEA, please visit www.spacecoastscience.org.

For more information, please contact Susan Schleith, SCSCEA Treasurer and FSEC K-12 Education Program Director, at susan@fsec.ucf.edu or 321-638-1017.

###

Cloudy Skies Add to Real-World Learning Challenges at EnergyWhiz

Sherri Shields Awards, Feature Story, Media Advisory May 21, 2018May 14, 2021Critter Comfort Cottage, Energy Innovations, Energy Transfer Machine, EnergyWhiz, JSS, Junior Solar Sprint, Solar Energy Cook-off 1 Comment

By Sherri Shields

COCOA, Fla., May 21, 2018—A blanket of cloud-covered skies can be a real challenge for students to race Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) cars and keep solar oven temperatures sufficient for cooking.

Sam’s Speed Shop from McLane Middle School in Brandon, FL won first place in Race competition, second place in Most Innovative Design, and third place in the Best Design competition in the Blue Division (grades 7&8). *Photo: Liza Robles*

Although the sun never peeked through the clouds for the EnergyWhiz competitions on Saturday, May 12^th, at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, the JSS cars were still able to race. “One thing we’ve learned since hosting EnergyWhiz for the past 15 years is that if you want to stay on schedule, you need a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate,” said Susan Schleith, K-12 Education program director. “Battery backup is now an essential part of the car design, for situations like this.”

Female student from Saturn Elementary School and a male student prepare to race their Junior Solar Sprint cars, which were modified to run on batteries instead of solar due to the cloudy sky. — Female student from Students prepare to race their Junior Solar Sprint cars, which were modified to run on batteries instead of solar due to the cloudy sky. *Photo: Leon Flowers*

2018 EnergyWhiz Awards

Sherri Shields Awards May 18, 2018July 23, 2018EnergyWhiz 0 Comment

C3, Middle, 2nd

Critter Comfort Cottage

Elementary Division

1^st Place – In Spike of it All (Hedgehog) – Lawton Chiles Elementary, Tampa

2^nd Place – Florida Ducks (Duck) – Ocean Breeze Elementary, Indian Harbor Beach

3^rd Place – Lil’ Peeps (Chickens) – Hans Christian Anderson Elementary, Rockledge

Middle School Division

1^st Place – The Mighty Midnighters (Cat) – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – The Happy Hoppers (Bunny) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3rd Place – Chipmunk Chicks (Chipmunk) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – The Bog Frogs (Bog Frog) – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – Marley’s Habitat (Leopard Frog) – Rockledge High, Rockledge

WOW! Award Elementary Division

Lil’ Peeps (Chickens) – Hans Christian Anderson Elementary, Rockledge

WOW! Award Middle Division

Nature Gals (Squirrel) – Innovation Middle, Orlando

Energy Innovations

Middle School Division

1^st Place – Corn Snake Habitat – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Solar Powered Water Fountain – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – T.I.M. (Disaster Assistant Robot) – Lyman High, Longwood

2^nd Place – Charge Barge – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

3^rd Place – Country Roads Putt Putt – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

WOW! Award Middle School Division

Solar Powered Water Fountain – Milwee Middle, Longwood

WOW! Award High School Division

Charge Barge – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

Energy Transfer Machine

1^st Place – Mission: Feed Sheldon – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – Phoenix Engineers – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Floridian Fan – Lyman High, Longwood

Precision Award – Phoenix Engineers – Innovation Middle, Orlando

Junior Solar Sprint

Best Design – Green Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Shelby Racing Team – Lithia Springs Elementary, Valrico

2^nd Place – Mavericks by MAV – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

3^rd Place – Tie – Thunderbird 1, North Broward Preparatory, Coconut Creek

3^rd Place – Tie – USchool Tiger Sharks, Nova Southeast University School, Davie

Best Design – Blue Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Beast Mode – Innovation Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Longwood

Most Innovative Green Division

1^st Place – Wonderful Wildebeasts – Corbett Preparatory, Tampa

2^nd Place – 3 Headed Phoenix – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Solar Squad – McLane Middle, Brandon

Most Innovative Blue Division

1^st Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Brandon

3^rd Place – Solar Vikings – McLane Middle, Brandon

Race – Green Division

1^st Place – Solar Squad – McLane Middle, Brandon

2^nd Place – Shelby Racing Team – Lithia Springs Elementary, Valrico

3^rd Place – California Kings – Martinez Middle, Lutz

Race – Blue Division

1^st Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Brandon

2^nd Place – Double Two – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

3^rd Place – The Cringe Crew – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

Solar Energy Cook-off

Best Design – Yellow Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Sun Food – Martinez Middle, Lutz

2^nd Place – Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

3^rd Place – Three Amigos – Martinez Middle, Lutz

Best Design – Orange Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Solar Sharks, Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

Best Design – Red Division (Grades 9 – 12)

1^st Place – The Hot Pockets – Lyman High, Longwood

2^nd Place – Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High

WOW! Award Yellow Division

Sun Food – Martinez Middle, Lutz

WOW! Award Orange Division

Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

WOW! Award Red Division

Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High

Culinary Award – Yellow Division

1^st Place – Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

2^nd Place – Three Amigos – Martinez Middle, Lutz

3^rd Place – Tiki Troop – Atlantis Elementary, Cocoa

Culinary Award – Orange Division

1^st Place – Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Sunny Side Up – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Culinary Award – Red Division

1^st Place – Mango Marauders, Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – The Hot Pockets, Lyman High, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Yellow Division

Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

Fresh From Florida Award Orange Division

Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Red Division

Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

Electrathon

MediaContact: Charles Harrison, charlie@electrathonoftampabay.org

High School Division

1st place, Brandon HS car 14 with 121 laps

2nd place, Brooks DeBartolo car 55 with 87 laps

3rd place, Brandon HS car 9 with 76 laps

4th place, Simmons Career Center car 35 with 24 laps

5th place STEMTECH car 823 with 14 laps.

Open Division

1st place, Tiger Racing car 4 with 153 laps

2nd place, Silver Bullet Racing car 94 with 149 laps

3rd place, RYNO Racing car 13 with 49 laps

4th place, Seminole State College car 314 with 40 laps

5th place, Hillsborough Community College car 30 with 3 laps.

Advanced Battery Division

1st place, Pro EV car 39 with 171 laps

2nd place, University of South Florida car 132 with 121 laps

3rd place Titan Racing car 242 with 80 laps.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay End of the Year Awards, 2017-2018 Race Season.

Season Points Winners:

High School Division

1st place, Simmons Career car 35 with 348 points

2nd place, Brandon HS car 14 with 328 points

3rd place Simmons Career Center car 53 with 324 points.

Open Division

1st place Tiger Racing car 4 with 464 points

2nd place Silver Bullet Racing car 94 with 228 points

3rd place Hillsborough Community College car 30 with 214 points.

Advanced Battery Division

1st place, University of South Florida car 132 with 404 points

2nd place, Pro EV car 39 with 330 points

3rd place, Titan Racing car 242 with 158 points.

Volunteer of the Year: Aditya Chelikani

Executive Board Member of the Year: Brady Weber Team

Sponsor of the Year: Mark Knowlton (Brandon HS)

“I Broke Mine” Award: Dustyn Clark (Brandon HS)

Fastest Lap per Division:

High School Division Mulberry HS car 38 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 30.774.

Open Division Tiger Racing car 4 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 30.69

Advanced Battery Division University of South Florida car 132 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 26.471.

Most Laps for the 2017-2018 Race Season:

High School Division: Simmons Career Center car 53 with 729 laps,

Advanced Battery Division: University of South Florida car 132 with 790 laps

Open Division: Tiger Racing car 4 with 1,141 laps.