For the competition, the students were divided into 12 teams of four students, with each member coming from a different school district. Each team faced eight challenges designed to use their knowledge of math, chemistry, physics and engineering and test their communication, technical writing, team-building, and Internet search skills. The Penn State DuBois faculty and staff and employees of local industries judged the event and awarded points for each task completed. The Elk County Christian Team from St. Marys, comprised of Bob Benson, Joe Caruso, Lisann Kronenwetter, and Devin Snelick, walked away with the traveling trophy awarded to the school with the most points. Greg Snelick, math instructor at Elk County Christian and team advisor, expressed his pleasure at his school s performance.
Academics are important, and it s an honor to win the traveling school trophy.
He also thanked the campus for coordinating the challenge and making it available to local schools. All students received certificates of participation. The purpose of the technology challenge is to promote hands-on skills and to show students how the many disciplines they are learning in high school are interrelated, said Gigliotti. The event also provides students a chance to see the benefits of the Tech Prep curriculum. Tech Prep is a statewide career guidance and development program aimed at high school students.