Published: May 15, 2008 11:23 am            

Bird Brains, Shadesters awarded in national competition

Washington D.C. — Two teams from Byng Junior High School in Ada, Okla. have won $20,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds by taking regional awards in this year’s national eCYBERMISSION competition.

eCYBERMISSION is a U.S. Army-sponsored, web-based science, math and technology competition that allows students in grades six through nine to compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their communities.

Taking a second-place award, which includes $3,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds for each student, is the “Bird Brains” team, comprised of seventh graders Dalton Butler, Elizabeth Hart, Mary Hart and Caleb McGaha, led by Team Advisor Linda Lancaster.

The students investigated the problem of diminishing food supplies for birds in the winter. They campaigned to local businesses for money and supplies to build a bird sanctuary at their school and taught students about birds and bird watching.

Taking a criteria award, which includes $2,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds for each student, is the “Shadesters” team, comprised of ninth graders Justin Frazier, Sarah Jones, Jennifer O’Grady and Ryan Williams, led by Team Advisor Deborah Cornelison. The students received an “Application of Science, Math and Technology” award and were recognized by judges for their experimentation with adding a shaded section to a newly constructed courtyard at their school, in order to reduce the dangers of heat and ultraviolet radiation.

In the past six years, Byng Junior High School has won $106,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds by students competing in eCYBERMISSION.

“We congratulate these Ada winners for their superb research and analysis during this year’s eCYBERMISSION competition,” said Mike Doyle, U.S. Army eCYBERMISSION program manager.

“These innovative students were selected from thousands of their peers and show the potential that our bright young Americans have as future leaders in science, math and technology.”

This year, 1,763 teams, comprised of 6,382 students, submitted their research for judging. Now in its sixth year, eCYBERMISSION has awarded more than $4.6 million in U.S. EE Savings Bonds in support of the science, math and technology leaders of tomorrow. Since its inception, more than 46,000 students from across the country and in U.S. territories and Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide have participated in the competition.

Registration for next year’s competition opens August 1. For a complete listing of the 2007-2008 winners or for more information, visit www.ecybermission.com.

        

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