DPS students take high honors in National Science, Math and Technology Competition

Friday, September 30, 2005

Two teams of students from Durfee Elementary School won national awards at the recent regional eCYBERMISSION math, science and technology competition.

One team, consisting of eighth-graders Darion Hill-Austin, DeAundre Graves, Demontae Moore, and Koreco Wilkins, won first place in the Northwest region, thus claiming a spot as one of 16 national finalists. Their project demonstrated how flashing armbands can prevent pedestrian traffic fatalities.

The second team, made up of sixth-graders Shaquille Pitchford, Shaquilmaih Hagwood, Deonta Bray and Dawnyel Lundy, received a Benefit to the Community award for raising awareness on the effects of the glorification of drug and alcohol use on television, movies and in popular music. Each member of the eighth-grade team received a plaque and a $6,500 savings bond; members of the sixth-grade team were each rewarded with plaques and $2,000 savings bonds.

The eCYBERMISSION contest is for students in grades six through nine. It encourages students to use technology to solve problems in their communities. A total of 1,151 teams from across the country, consisting of 4,184 students, submitted projects. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Army.