Santee Students Named Regional Winners in International Science Competition

What if the Global Positioning System, a satellite-based navigation system, could be built into a cane to help the blind? Three sixth-grade students from believe it’s possible, and they have been named regional winners in the ExploraVision science competition for their GPS cane idea.

Shawnee Holimon, Jennifer Carhuamaca and Haya Zidan’s team were one of eight teams from the school to participate in the international competition.

“To have the girl’s project become a regional winner was just an absolute thrill,” said sixth-grade teacher Jeff Lamb, who has helped guide his students throughout the competition process.

Lamb's students have participated in the competition for three years. Another team from Chet F. Harritt School was recognized with an “honorable mention” title for their censored karate glove idea. Last year, three teams from the school received honorable mention.

Since 1992, more than 270,000 students from the United States and Canada have competed in ExploraVision. The competition allows students to work in small teams to “research a technology of interest and explore what that technology could be like 20 years from now.”

Teams from six different regions are judged in kindergarten-third, fourth-sixth, seventh-ninth and 10-12th grade groupings.

Lamb said the international competition is a great opportunity for students to learn to work together.

“A group project, working with their peers, is more of a challenge than they ever thought possible,” Lamb said. “To have a goal in mind and have to work together toward that goal in small steps and short increments is challenging. There’s a lot of different group dynamics they get to go through.”

Holimon, Carhuamaca and Zidan have enjoyed working together. 

“If we worked as a team we could get done faster,” Zidan said.

Carhuamaca said the project has been "fun."

“It was easier to work with friends,” Carhuamaca said. “We could do anything with a team.”

Lamb’s students began brainstorming in September. Together, they had 80 different ideas. 

“Those 80 were only the gateway to 8 million possibilities,” he said. “They just had to use their imagination and creativity.”

Since the brainstorming sessions, the students used netbooks to research and formulate their ideas. They are now creating a website to better communicate and promote their vision. 

“We’re not trying to mess around,” Carhuamaca said. “We’re actually trying to help people.”

Holimon said their teacher has been supportive throughout the process.

“Mr. Lamb is a great coach, always working with us,” she said.

The regional winners were announced earlier this month. First and second place winners will be selected from all grade level groupings. The national winners will be notified by May 2.

Regional winners receive camcorders, as well as an awards ceremony, at the team’s school.

First place winners receive a $10,000 U.S.  Savings Bond for each student, and second place winners receive a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond for each student. National finalists also receive a paid trip to Washington D.C. for the ExploraVision Awards June 15-18.

“I just really like the fact they get to be designers and they get to be inventors,” Lamb said. “The best thing about it is the opportunity to look at the world around them and try to look at it through new eyes. They can look at the world and try to make it better.”

All three students said they are thankful for the opportunity.  

“It’s a great thing to do, it’s so much fun and we’re glad we did it,” Holimon said.