North Winn Students Win Special Engineering Award

A North Winneshiek School sixth grade team has won an award for the Best Integrated Solution at the Future City state competition in Cedar Rapids. , the award was given to the city that "best incorporates sustainability and an integrated approach to managing resources and infrastructure systems."
 
This award, given by the international engineering firm CH2MHILL, included a plaque and monetary gift for the team's city model built to solve this year's research topic: designing a system to control stormwater runoff.  The team also won a spotlight award for Outstanding Design Artistry.

Sixth graders Thomas Hendrickson, Billy Lange, Brendan Lovstuen, Maddy Michels, Stacia Sexton and Ashton Towne worked during their study hall the entire first semester on the project. They created a city called "Solidago," the scientific name for goldenrod—which futuristically would replace Fargo, ND, after a devastating flood in 2029. Solidago's stormwater runoff system included wetlands, a levee, bio-retention prairie-flower beds, green roofs, rain-barrel collection systems, and a grey-water recycling system.
 
Lee Bjerke, Winneshiek county engineer, volunteered to help the students as an engineering mentor.

The Future City Competition is a national, project-based learning experience where students in middle school imagine, design, and build cities of the future.
 
Photo: North Winneshiek sixth graders Thomas Hendrickson, Brendan Lovstuen, Stacia Sexton, Maddison Michels, Ashton Towne, and Billy Lange