Students win state contest

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Reporter
 
A team of Newcastle High School students, under the direction of science teacher James Stith, was recently honored as one of the two Wyoming state champions in the national Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. The students’ efforts earned a $6,500 grant for the science department. 
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is “a nationwide competition that challenges students in grades 6th-12th to creatively use STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills to address real-world issues in their communities,” a press release states. 
Stith, along with students Toby Johnson, Travis Harrington and Logan Wynia, developed a plan for radon detection in basements — a common issue in the area. Radon is a radioactive gas that can seep into houses and other structures through cracks in the buildings. Prolonged exposure to radon can lead to health issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
“We are planning on building an Arduino — or Raspberry Pi-based radon detector. Instead of a standard radon mitigation system, which just constantly vents gas from the basement to the outside, our system would include active radon monitoring. When levels reach the 4 picocuries/liter threshold, EPA’s maximum for safe human exposure, the microcontroller would turn on the fan for a traditional radon mitigation system,” Stith said. 
Stith added that this system would be connected to a mobile device app to alert the homeowner about the status of radon infiltration in their homes. The system will be useful because it will allow homeowners to know when their radon levels are problematic and deal with the issue accordingly, Johnson said.
At this point, the team has already conducted much of the research and will begin building the prototype this semester for the next phase in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. 
Johnson has helped in a number of ways with the project, including pitching ideas and helping with troubleshooting. With the next steps in their work being creating their prototype and demonstrating it in a video pitch, Johnson will be taking lead on the video project. Stith said they have also partnered with the Wyoming Department of Health in this next phase. 
The students involved have learned a great deal during this project — from problem solving and pitching ideas to applying what they learn to prepare to build prototypes. Johnson said he has greatly enjoyed this project and is excited to move forward. 
“So far, I’ve learned a fair amount about the issue of radon, and some about how detection works. Going forward, I’m going to have to be learning a lot more about several different electrical components, since we need to not only have a radon detector but also connect it with a phone application,” Johnson said. 
“I’m really excited that the project is going forward, and I can’t wait to get further into it. It’s going to be a lot of fun and a great opportunity,” he added. 
It means a lot to the team to be state champions — both because of the grant funds that will be very helpful, and for the recognition of their excellence in this project. This is also not the first time that NHS has done well in this competition. 
“Being a state winner is an awesome honor. We have been state winners or advanced further in the competition for several years,” Stith said. “We plan to use the grant funds to acquire some laptop computers to bolster our makerspace goals, including 3D design and programming.” A makerspace is a work space inside a school for creating and learning. 
The grant money will allow the science department to purchase more needed equipment to further their capabilities. 
 
Schools benefit 
from grants
In addition to the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest grant of $6,500 that the science department of Newcastle High School received, several other grants have benefited Weston County School District No. 1.
The NHS library received a $500 grant from the National Society of High School Scholars. The funds will be used to continue keeping supplies free for students for the Cricut Maker machines and sewing machines that the science department recently purchased for the library. 
The elementary, middle school and high school libraries applied for the School Library Collection Development Project through the Wyoming State Library and were granted $4.21 per student to purchase new books, e-books or audio books. 
The NHS agriculture department received a $24,594 CTE, or Career and Technical, Cutting Edge Grant, awarded through the Wyoming Department of Education. The funds were used to expand the NHS CTE program. Items purchased include a bovine birthing and ultrasound simulator, a bovine breeding artificial insemination simulator and artificial insemination cervix training kit, a hydroponics plant system package and a mini hydroponics systems pack, and a maintenance and construction package. Each item came with a curriculum and guide. 
 
The NHS graphics and vinyl received a $1,397.01 grant from the Jerry Anderson Scholarship Fund. The funds were used to purchase a heat transfer vinyl hat press and a cordless vacuum to keep the embroidery machine and vinyl machines clean. The funds also went to other supplies that students needed.