Laurens County School District 56 Students Shine at Michelin STEM Challenge

Laurens County School District 56 (LCSD56) students showcased their engineering and problem-solving skills at the annual Michelin STEM Challenge held last Wednesday. The event, which included 3rd and 5th graders from Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56, highlighted the students’ ingenuity in designing rockets and catapults for both accuracy and distance challenges.

District 56 Standouts

The District 56 teams excelled in several categories, bringing home top placements:

3rd Grade Accuracy

• 3rd Place: Ms. Gracen Sharp’s team at Eastside Elementary (EE): Amari Lindsey, Madison Craig, Alessandro Flores-Salgado, and Kinsley Windsor

3rd Grade Distance

• 3rd Place: Ms. Elizabeth Myers’ team at EE: Sydney Garrett, Noah Lawson, Jordan Lawson, and Mateo Rodriquez
• Ms. Marie Berry’s team at Joanna-Woodson Elementary School (JWES): Trenton McGowan, Josiah Harp, and Jasmine Sweet
• Ms. Sonya Barker’s team at JWES: CJ Darby, Kylie Pyles, and Addy Wainwright

5th Grade Distance

• 2nd Place: Ms. Allison Taylor’s team at JWES: Kole Murphy, Aten Bain, Ava Felker, and Lukas Polson
• 1st Place: Ms. White’s team at EE: Gavin Jackson, Ty’Tieonna Dowdy, and Arianna Booker

The Challenges

The competition was divided into two primary events based on grade level:

3rd Grade: Rockets Students were tasked with designing rockets that could either fly the farthest or hit designated targets accurately. Using identical materials and designs, teams competed in the following challenges:

• Distance: Rockets were launched from a set line, and measurements were taken to the closest part of the rocket after landing.
• Accuracy: Teams aimed to land rockets in two containers: a larger pool for 10 points and a smaller container inside the pool for 25 points. Each team had five launches, and the team with the highest total points was crowned champion.

5th Grade: Catapults Students designed and constructed catapults capable of tossing ping pong balls into targets for accuracy and distance:

• Accuracy: Targets included a summer pool for 10 points and a smaller container inside for 25 points. Teams had five attempts to maximize their scores.
• Distance: Each team launched a ping pong ball, with the longest measured distance determining the winner.

Preparation and Support

Leading up to the challenge, the Joe Adair Center provided detailed guidelines, including allowed materials and dimensions. Teachers worked closely with students in small groups to brainstorm, design, and build their rockets and catapults, encouraging creativity and teamwork.

A Look Ahead

Michelin’s continued sponsorship of this annual event provides students with a valuable hands-on STEM experience. The 7th-grade competition, featuring a paper airplane launcher challenge, has been rescheduled to take place at Clinton Middle School, with a date to be determined.

For more information about the Michelin STEM Challenge and updates on future events, stay connected with Laurens County School District 56. Congratulations to all the students, teachers, and schools for their hard work and success!