Around Tinker: Engineers support STEM Education

Tinker Engineering and Science Leadership Association members, from left, Kent Wheeler, 76th Commodities Maintenance Group; Cara Ogle, 76th CMXG; Devan Maharaj, 559th Software Maintenance Squadron; Dana Coover, 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group; and Jody Elias, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, were volunteer judges at a recent Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, event. (Courtesy photo/Released)

Around Tinker: Engineers support STEM Education

Published March 10, 2016
By 76th Commodities Maintenance Group

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Engineers and scientists from Tinker Air Force Base recently volunteered their time to serve as judges at Oklahoma's Regional Future City Competition in support of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education outreach
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The Future City Competition is a project-based learning experience where students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades imagine, design and build cities of the future. The theme for the 2016 Future City Competition was "Waste Not Want Not," challenging students to tackle the problem of solid waste management. Each project included five components that encompass the full engineering process: a project plan, a virtual design with SimCity software, an essay explaining their project, a model of the city, and a presentation. V

olunteer judges from Tinker and other organizations reviewed and scored each component of the city design and presentation.

"It is a privilege to score the hard work these young students have put into their projects," said volunteer judge Kent Wheeler, a mechanical engineer with the 76th CMXG. "Their inspiring pursuit of an interest in STEM reminds me of why I chose a career in engineering."

St. Philip Neri Catholic School received first place in the regional contest at the Future City Competition at Oklahoma Christian University, and will advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

St. Philip Neri students designed "Moscovia," a city 55 years in the future with effective solid waste management focused on recycling and energy. The team will compete for a grand prize of $7,500 and a trip to Space Camp.

Volunteers from Tinker were organized through the EN K-12 Education Outreach Resources Branch and the Tinker Engineering and Science Leadership Association.
To find out more or join TESLA, click the link to the SharePoint site from the Tinker Home Page, Base Services tab.

Learn more about the Future City Competition at their website http://futurecity.org/.