Lawrence Virtual School Students Win National STEM Competition
Three Lawrence Virtual School (LVS) students, Lawrence Dao and Daniel Dao, of Lawrence, Kansas, and Eian Pracht of Lindsborg, Kansas, along with team advisor Nancy Jackson won the 8th grade division of the 22nd annual eCYBERMISSION National Judging & Educational Event sponsored by the Army Educational Outreach Program on June 28 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles hotel in Chantilly, Virginia. The students will each receive a $10,000 savings bond.
A free, virtual STEM competition for students in grades 6-9, eCYBERMISSION promotes teamwork, self-discovery, and authentic applications of STEM. Led by an adult advisor, students work in teams to select a problem in their community to investigate with science or solve with engineering. Participating in eCYBERMISSION, students experience STEM firsthand, learn how they can use it to change the world, interact with STEM professionals, and compete for state, regional, and national awards.
The national competition started with more than 2,000 teams. Five national finalist teams per grade level from across the country competed for the national title. As national finalists, the LVS team earned an expenses-paid trip to the weeklong national event June 24-28. In addition to attending science workshops and fun activities during the week, the teams presented their eCYBERMISSION projects to a panel of senior scientist and engineer judges from the U.S. Department of Defense, National Science Teaching Association, and the eCYBERMISSION Team Advisor of the Year. The panel unanimously selected the national winners for each grade level announced at the national awards ceremony at the end of the week.
The LVS team, aptly named The Scientists, studied the interest in and potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) educational initiatives in schools and assessed the accuracy of ChatGPT’s mathematical reasoning. The students presented their findings to the USD 497 technology team and the Lawrence Board of Education, encouraging both to embrace and educate students and teachers about AI.
Part of Lawrence Public Schools USD 497, LVS provides education to K-12 students throughout Kansas.
Attachments:
- National Science Teaching Association eCYBERMISSION News Release
- 2 Photos: “LVS eCYBERMISSION Team”: Members of “The Scientists,” Lawrence Virtual School students Eian Pracht, advisor Nancy Jackson, Lawrence Dao, and Daniel Dao, celebrate their national championship prizes. “National Awards Presentation to LVS eCYBERMISSION Team”: Members of “The Scientists,” advisor Nancy Jackson, and LVS students Daniel Dao, Lawrence Dao, and Eian Pracht, accept their award for winning the national title.
