FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1999
Sixth- and seventh-grade students from Velma Hamilton Middle School continued a school tradition by making another strong showing at the Wisconsin Future Problem Solving State Bowl held April 15-17, winning two team competitions and taking home a number of individual medals for their work brainstorming solutions to prison overcrowding.
Fifty teams from schools across the state participated in three age divisions in the annual contest held at the Interlaken Resort in Lake Geneva.
Sixth graders coached by Hamilton teacher Barbara Widder swept the junior level competition at the State Bowl, placing first, second and third in the overall team competition. The team of Laura Cullenwand, Anna Ficken, Amy Kerman and Emily Triggs won first place. Jake Brower, Dylan Mathieu, Collen Christensen and Diane Wu finished second. Nathaniel Brown, Anna Fink, Emma Laedlein and Daniel Phillips took third place.
Laura Cullenwand, Anna Fink, Amy Kerman, Emily Triggs and Corey Triggs teamed to win first place in the skit performance category, which requires the students to plan and present a four-minute skit demonstrating their solution to a problem.
Seventh graders coached by Hamilton teacher Lynn Buckmaster swept the middle division competition in the scenario writing category, with David Kaiser winning first place, Will Anderson taking second place and Sandy Chen finishing third. Maddie Whalen finished second in the overall individual competition and David Kaiser finished third overall.
Sandy Chen, Serene Chen, Leah Fink, Jenni Young and Maddie Whalen finished third in an artistic category involving the creation of team badges that capture the essence of the competition.
State Bowl participants brainstormed 20 problems relating to this year's topic – alternatives to prison. Students then selected a significant underlying problem and brainstormed 20 solutions. They developed criteria for selecting the best solution and completed the process by writing up their idea of the best solution. This process was completed in two hours by teams and individual contestants. Students then developed and performed skits to "sell" their best solution to the audience on Saturday.
Winning teams and individuals now move on to the international competition to be held in Ann Arbor, Michigan in June.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Barbara Widder & Lynn Buckmaster
Velma Hamilton Middle School
267-4289
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6270
email: mmccabe@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 1999-04-19
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