Storm The Citadel competition brings future engineers to campus

A team of five eighth graders and one sixth grader from Laing Middle School of Science and Technology came in first in the Middle School Centurion Division of The Storm The Citadel! Trebuchet Competition Saturday, Feb. 16. The students, who were mentored by Laing faculty members Curtis Wisor and Mel Goodwin, also won the Overall Centurion Accuracy Award and beat out other Centurion division winners — Summerville High School, U.S. Navy NPTU and Dubose Middle School, with whom Laing initially tied in the Middle School Division finals.

Co-hosted by Google and The Citadel, the third annual Storm The Citadel! brought teams to The Citadel campus ranging from a class of first graders at St. Andrews School of Math and Science competing in the Hoplite Division to corporate contestants from Google and SPAWAR who competed in the Barbarian Division. The trebuchet competition was just one of several competitions taking place on campus for Engineering Week.

Teams had to build a trebuchet, which is a type of catapult, capable of accurately tossing a ball between 50 and 200 feet at a target. Points were awarded and winners selected based on accuracy, design and team spirit. Teams dressed in costumes ranging from science nerds and scientists to medieval knights and warriors.

The Citadel and Google are among the Lowcountry’s leaders in providing opportunities and initiatives to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs in the schools. The trebuchet contest was designed to get students excited about science and technology and to encourage them to have fun while learning.

“We are grateful for Google’s continuing support of the Storm The Citadel! competition” said Glenda La Rue, director of The Citadel STEM Center of Excellence. “Together The Citadel and Google are generating enthusiasm for STEM and nurturing future scientists, engineers and mathematicians.”

The results of this year’s competition are:

HOPLITE DIVISION (K-5)

Accuracy (includes Design):

First – Charles Pinckney ES Warriors

Second – Fort Dorchester ES Great Green Gators

Third – Eagle Nest ES Bald Eagle Bashers

Spirit:

First – Faith Christian School Trebu-saurus Rexes

Second – Sedgefield Intermediate Pink Dolphins

Third – Charles Pinckney ES Thumbs Up!

Honorable Mention - Beech Hill ES Beacons

CENTURION DIVISION

Accuracy:

Middle School

First – Laing MS STEM Slingers

Second – Dubose MS Mad Scientists

Third – Macedonia MS Foxes

High School

First – Summerville HS Impact Zone

Second – Porter-Gaud HS Mel Gibson’s Army

Third – Goose Creek HS

College/Org/Military

First – US Navy NPTU: Hillbilly Handcrafters

Design:

Middle School

First – Dubose MS Mad Scientists

Second – Sangaree MS Eagles

Third – Alston MS Artillery

High School

First – Berkeley HS Ingeniators

Second – Summerville HS Impact Zone

Centurion Spirit:

First – Stratford HS Siege Team,

Second – Porter-Gaud HS Mel Gibson’s Army

Third – Thomas Cario MS Twisted Sixters

Overall Centurion Distance Award:

SPAWAR – SPAWARRIORS

Overall Centurion Accuracy Award:

Laing MS STEM Slingers

Congratulations to all teams who braved the cool weather to participate in Storm The Citadel.