Decorah Middle School "Future City" team places 5th at State

(clockwise, from top left): Leila Johnson, Thomas Ostlie, Ruby Sullivan, Robyn Dayton, Grace Gerleman, Sofie Grouws, Larsson Shockey, Drew Chamberlain, Mikiah Krieg, Isaac Cooper, Dane Frieden, Anya Lovstuen, Isaac Roberts, Noah Lovelace, and Dalton Hemesath.

Decorah Middle School students have finished in 5th place in the State Future City competition held in Cedar Rapids over the weekend.

Decorah's team Bantaylupa earned the fifth place trophy and also a special engineering award--"Best Urban Application of Renewable Principles: Recycle, Reduce, Renew and Rot."

The team consisted of 7th and 8th graders Sofie Grouws, Leila Johnson, Noah Lovelace and Isaac Roberts.  Their city, based in Cebu City, Philippines, features a pneumatic tube system for collecting waste, a continuous flow aerobic compost system, a wastewater converter algae system to treat sewage and make fertilizer and energy, and a "Cradle to Grave" law which requires manufacturers to dispose of their used products.

Another Decorah Middle School team of 6th graders Izaak Eichinger, Dane Frieden, Grace Gerleman, Anya Lovstuen, and Ruby Sullivan created "Citta Pulita," which featured Swap-O-Matic vending machines located in apartment lobbies where citizens can trade items.  This city was awarded "Outstanding Community Use Plan for Compost Facility."

Another group of 6th graders--Drew Chamberlain, Isaac Cooper, Robyn Dayton, Dalton Hemesath, Mikiah Krieg, Thomas Ostlie and Larsson Shockey--created "Sana Habana," rwhich featured a Plasma Converter which heats, melts, and vaporizes non-recyclable waste.  Sana Habana received the "Excellence in Futuristic Sustainability award."

Three Decorah engineers--Mike Murphy, Matt Schulz and Mike Vermace--acted as mentors to the group.  They taught students the difference between civil, mechanical, environmental and other engineers. They provided technical assistance to the students, particularly when the students were designing movable parts.

Future City, a national competition sponsored by engineering firms around the U.S., is part of the project-based learning component of the Extended Learning Program taught by Carole Sand.