The sixth grade team from Sashabaw Middle School made a historic win at Eastern Michigan University on March 5 by becoming the first team from Clarkston to ever win the Michigan Future Problem Solving Bowl. The team was also victorious in the Action Plan Team Presentation Competition. The team moves on to national competition in Fort Collins, Colorado on June 1?4.
The fifth grade team from Bailey Lake Elementary placed third in the same division and scored a first place trophy for their Team Presentation.
Holly Kornas, who coached both teams, said she was surprised but thrilled at the outcome.
‘I was jumping up and down for the third place team,? Kornas said, adding how shocked she was to hear another one of her teams placed even higher.
‘I knew I had a super smart group… I just didn’t know what we were up against,? said Kornas. ‘When they called the first place team I went nuts. We were jumping up and down and hugging each other.?
These were just two of 13 teams from Clarkston Schools that competed at the bowl. Students worked on problems related to the future ? climate threat, freedom of speech and nutrition ? throughout the school year. After being scored by trained evaluators, the top 50 percent were invited to the state competition.
At the state level, students were given a the topic of health care access and given two hours to write and solve 16 problems on the subject. The team ultimately had to write an action plan for their best solution and prepare a skit based on their plan.
The parents of team members were also on hand to assist in the competition. Some worked as chaperones while others worked as assistants and helped judge other presentations.
‘They were super supportive and I couldn’t have done it without them,? said Kornas.
Now the SMS team is back practicing as they prepare for the national competition before the thrill of victory can even wear off.
‘I’m still in shock. I’m definitely proud of them,? said Kornas.