Schlumberger Engineering Olympics Held at UNO

UNO, Mar 23, 2005 — Nearly 100 middle school students from Jefferson, Orleans, and Plaquemines parishes participated in the Schlumberger Engineering Olympics on March 23, 2005. The Louisiana Engineering Advancement Program (LEAP) hosted the event which was held at the University Of New Orleans College of Engineering.

While Dawn Davis, NASA Stennis Space Center engineer, records the racer's weight, team members nervously seek advice from teammates prior to the first time trial.

The Schlumberger Engineering Olympics is an annual event designed to introduce students to engineering through competitive and challenging events. The 2005 Olympiad for middle school students featured building a toothpick bridge based on given specifications, solving three critical thinking problems, and designing and building an electric powered propeller driven balsa wood racer. Engineers from Monsanto and NASA Stennis Space Center served as judges for the one day event.

Schools which have LEAP sponsored engineering clubs receive all materials necessary for the competition free of charge. Non-member schools are required to pay a registration fee which includes all materials and t-shirts.

	A student pours sand into the test device which is hung from one of the bridge's support members while judges check for a deflection not to exceed ½ inch.

Thanks to a first place finish in the toothpick bridge competition and a third place finish in the electric racer contest, John Q. Adams Middle School was the recipient of the coveted Engineering Olympics trophy, which remains their property until 2006, when they must defend it. Despite a first place finish in the critical thinking problem portion of the competition and a fourth place finish in the electric racer contest, J. D. Meisler Middle School was two points shy of first place winner John Q. Adams Middle School. Belle Chasse Middle School tied J. D. Meisler Middle School for second place with a second place and third place finish in the electric racer contest and toothpick bridge contest, respectively.

Other schools participating this year were St. Raymond Catholic School, Martin Behrman School, P.A. Capdau Charter School, McDonogh 28 Learning Academy, Mildred Osborne School, Theodore Roosevelt Middle School, and Xavier Preparatory School.