Cardboard canoes, costumes and a “battle of the boats” are drawing students and staff to the water at Garces Memorial High School, where the campus held its fifth annual Engineering Day. The annual event showcases the creativity and problem-solving skills of students in the school’s “Project Lead the Way” engineering pathway.
Students spent the morning putting finishing touches on their cardboard canoes ahead of the day’s races, one of the event’s biggest highlights. Among the competitors was 11th-grader Cianna Anotongiovanni, who said her team’s boat was inspired by a longtime teacher, Mr. John L. Fanucki, and designed as the “math mobile,” with formulas drawn across the top.
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Cianna said she adjusted her design after learning from last year’s attempt. She said her previous boat was flat and sank, so this year’s version has a tipped front edge to help it cut through the water and move faster. She also said her team made paddles out of cardboard and tape to help move through the water.
Cianna expressed how “Project Lead the Way” program taught her problem-solving, working with limited materials, and teamwork.
Students are Garces Memorial High School pose in front of their cardboard boats ahead of the canoe races. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
Teacher Jaima Cook, Department Chair of Engineering Path Way, told me the event is a school wide draw and that it’s rewarding to see how different designs perform once they hit the water.
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Cook also shared how interest in the program has grown. The school graduated about seven or eight students from the program her first year, and that number is now up to almost 30, with the potential to exceed 40 next year if students continue.
Along with the races, Cook said students pushed for a “battle of the boats” concept after the first year. She said this year’s version will be more intense and tied to fundraising, with three teachers narrowed down to participate.
One of the cardboard boats that will be participating in the competition. This one is “sonic-themed” and some of the cardboard pieces was used at last years Engineering Day. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
Ag Mechanics and design students built boats for the teachers, and one teacher will get in a boat to take part in the battle. The canoe races are judged by differebt categories Some boats are built for speed, while others, including a pirate-themed boat, are built for durability, and best design.
Event times mentioned during the broadcast varied. One set of times said judging starts at 10:30 a.m. for costumes and the boat race starts at 11:15 a.m. Another set of times said design judging begins at 10:15 a.m. and races start at 11:45 a.m.
A fews of the student’s boats that will be participating in the canoe races on Engineering Day at Garces Memorial High School. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
Cook encouraged students interested in engineering to look for schools that offer Project Lead the Way, saying many do across California, Kern County and the U.S., and that the program provides hands-on knowledge that’s useful beyond engineering.