2024-2025 Fairchild Challenge at Phipps: Challenge #2 Winners Announced!

By Alyssa Mulé, High School Programs Coordinator

Thank you to the many schools that submitted entries for Challenge #2!

 

High School 

In High School Challenge #2: Nature’s Unique Designs, high school students were challenged to think more deeply about patterns in nature that we otherwise take for granted. We asked them to not only interpret the patterns, but answer the question of why organisms in nature look the way they do. Why does a leopard have spots? Why might a butterfly look like a leaf? What can we learn from the pattern within the trunk of a tree? From the intricate spirals of a sunflower to the vibrant stripes of a zebra, nature is full of fascinating patterns that serve a variety of purposes. To convay this, students wrote a brief essay and created unique pieces of 2D art that captures the essence of the unique pattern of their choosing. While their artwork was meant to stay true to the characteristics and details of the pattern, they were asked to freely experiment with color, composition, and style to emphasize its significance. The submissions we received for this challenge were absolutely stunning. The judges for this challenge were truly amazed by the detail, thoughtfulness, and dedication displayed in each piece. Overall, this was by far one of the highest scoring challenges we have ever had. In fact, we had three PERFECT scores! All of the schools that participated should be very proud of their students for their incredible work. The winners and select artwork from this challenge will be on display in the Center for Sustainable Landscapes Gallery come February. 

 

And the High School winners are: 

First: Gateway High School: Piper Munyon

First: Woodland Hills High School: Addison Ebbitt

First: Shaler Area High School: Grace Grabowski, Abby Maher

Second: Penn-Trafford High School: Michael Harris, Cienna Oien, Sydney Mularski

Third: North Hills High School: Conner Boyle, Pluto (Kaida) Hagy 

 

Middle School 

In Middle School Challenge 2: Pittsburgh's Green Gazette, students were challenge to create an original 6-panel comic strip that tackles an environmental issue impacting Western Pennsylvania. Their mission was to research an issue, identify a realistic solution, and design an original superhero character built to address the problem. They were told that this superhero should embody the qualities and powers needed to implement a solution in a fun and imaginative way whether that combating pollution, restoring natural habitats. The judges LOVED seeing the students creative work and original characters. They were extremely impressed with the issues the students decided to tackle. All of the schools that participated should be very proud of their students for their incredible work! 

 

And the Middle School winners are: 

First: Fort Cherry

*All 3 submissions received a perfect score*

Violet Pfeifer

Kirsten Trnavsky

Abby W.

Second: Ingomar Middle School: Aayush Masurkar

Third: Mars Area Middle School: Olivia Airgod, Everly Henderson, Emma Johnson, Mary Khenish

Special Merit: Provident Charter Middle School: Grace Rogers (for Gort)

 

Elementary School Highlights!

Elementary school students were challenged to create a fun and enagaging nature-based scavenger hunt for their friends and families! Below are examples of some of the awesome work our elemantary schools students submitted for this challenge. The judges loved seeing what you were able to find in your own backyards and neighborhoods!

Archangel Gabriel 

St. Ambrose Academy 

 

Thank you to all of the students who submitted entries for this challenge, and thank you to the teachers who encouraged and supported them!

 

We would like to give a special shout out to our panelists: Jennifer Torrance (Phipps YCAC Coordinator), Jay-Ann Smith (Science Education Administrator), Genesis Harshell (Interactive Marketing Coordinator), Marley McFarland (YCAC Leader). Thank you for lending us your time and expertise!

 

Have questions? Contact Alyssa Mulé at amule@phipps.conservatory.org, 412/622-6915, ext. 3905.

 

Developed by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Fl., and adopted by Phipps as a satellite partner in 2008, The Fairchild Challenge offers a menu of interdisciplinary challenges for grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, attracting students of diverse interests, abilities, talents and backgrounds. The Challenge empowers young people to engage in civic life and encourages them to become energetic and knowledgeable members of their communities.