Fairchild Challenge at Phipps: Challenge #2 Winners Announced!

By Emily Johns, High School Program Coordinator

Thank you to all the schools that submitted entries for Fairchild Challenge #2, “Environmental Design: Green Rainwater Solutions.” This second challenge of the 2018 – 2019 school year got students thinking about rainwater in Pittsburgh. Both middle and high school students were tasked with creating a design for a local property incorporating green rainwater infrastructure. Students had to calculate the permeable and impermeable surface areas of their lots, research rainwater features, and create a design that would reduce the amount of surface runoff for their property. The projects we received were technical, creative and demonstrated great student effort. All participants did a great job, and we hope to see some of these innovative green rainwater designs come to life in the future!

And the winners are:

Middle School

First: Woodland Hills Academy — Simone Wilson, Isabele Wilson, Cameron Taylor, Owen Phillips, Leila Nestico, Bree Boyd, Isabella Caldwell, Mia Damico, Carmella DeVore, Raven Dean, Lillian Divelbiss, Ethan Emter, Lizzie Geyer, Lena Laubscher, Helena Marshall and MacKenna Matthews

Second: Trafford Middle School — Ella Dindak, Kari Leventopoulos, Mya Malloy, Bryce Kropczynoki and Eli Emahizer

Third: Carson Middle School — Maggie Mu

High School

First: Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School — Colton Edwards, Trent Edwards, Caden Ferita, Isaac Hess, Aiden Meininger and Alyssa Marchbank

Second: Shaler Area High School — Jamie Eichmiller, Caitlin Fedore, Alyssa Juzwick, Dakota Carr, Olivia Jarzynka, Anna Sheets and Rebecca Schiavone

Third: Seneca Valley High School — Ben Hess, Lindsey Butler, Maureen Bricleer, Amelia Reese and Grace Bailey

Third: West Mifflin Area High School — Carson Novosel

We would like to give a special shout out to our panelists: Lindsey-Rose Flowers (Nine Mile Run Watershed Association), Hayden Sloan (Sustainable Pittsburgh), Kris Charny (Phipps Volunteer), Jessica Horenstein (Phipps Outdoor Foreman), Anthony Stewart (DECO Resources), and Frank Muto (Phipps Volunteer). Thank you for lending us your expertise!

Have questions? Contact Emily Johns at ejohns@phipps.conservatory.org or 412/622-6915, ext. 6936.

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 6 – 8 and grades 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.

Photographs taken by Phipps’ Science Education and Research staff