Pupils get chance to show ideas

     By Tina Allen
     View staff writer
      Three seventh-graders at Hyde Park Middle School have an interesting future mapped out.
      The boys, Alex Martinez, Marcello Coluccio and Matthew Rodenbeek, placed second in the Las Vegas area regional National Engineers Week Future City Competition 2000, held Jan. 8.
      The participants were judged on scale models of future cities they built under the guidance of teachers and volunteer engineers and essays they wrote about life on Mars in the year 2030.
      Seven islands constructed above the ocean comprise the trio's city, Simtopia, named for a computer program they used to help generate it, called Sim City 2000.
      "Considering there is too much population on earth, we made islands so we can use the ocean, also," Martinez said. "Also, it doesn't take up as much room."
      There is Habitat Island with an animal research laboratory for cloning endangered species, Town Center Island with a revolving underwater casino, University Island for college students and Golden Years Island, the ultimate Sun City. Then of course, there's Industrial Island, home of the virtual flavor pill.
      "If you want to have something to eat, all you will have to do is press a button and your food will just appear out of nowhere, like in `The Jetsons,' " Rodenbeek said.
      They come in a variety of cuisines and flavors, he said.
      A space depot on Town Center Island transports passengers to a sister city on Mars, named Mars Simtopia.
      "I liked researching about the future because I'm really into the future," Coluccio said.
      First place went to Bill Burke, Emily Rosequist and Jessica Kranz from Sandy Valley Middle School for their miniature city Rosenk. Joel Mackey, Takara Green and Tara Loftis from Sandy Valley placed third; Ben Waggoner, Michael Pride and Sam Panice from Silvestri Middle School placed fourth; and Piya Pharghiphadbra, Rick Hert and Steve Craythorn from Guinn Middle School placed fifth.
      This is the first year Clark County youth competed in the national competition, organized seven years ago. It was open to seventh- and eighth-graders.
      The top two teams will go on to compete in a regional contest in Phoenix. The first-place team from this competition will travel to Washington D.C. to vie in the National Finals, scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23.
      The grand prize for the national champion team is a trip to the United States Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. The second- and third-place teams will be awarded $1,000 and $500 scholarships respectively to go toward their school's technology curriculum.
      Regional coordinator Wendy Fenner, from Clark County Public Works Design Engineering, said the participants were limited to a budget of $100 to build their models and were encouraged to use recyclable materials, such as milk cartons and bottles.
      And, just like in a master-planned community, they had to display residential, commercial and industrial areas, include power plants and transportation means and be energy efficient.
      The third-place team from Sandy Valley fueled their city with methane produced at a chicken ranch. In addition, the chickens would serve as a viable food source.
      "I hope they learned a little bit about engineering and how important it is in their community," Fenner said. "A lot of people don't think too much about what we do, they take a lot of it for granted. That's one of the things I want to convey.
      "But we also want to make them responsible citizens in the future and understand how important it is to be involved in their community and making it succeed," she said. "They can't just stand by and let the world pass them by."
      The following pupils received special awards for their team projects: Students' Choice Award, Chris Congen, Matt Russo and Mike Russo from Guinn Middle School; Most Creative Use of Materials, Joel Mackey, Takara Green and Tara Loftis from Sandy Valley Middle School; Most Futuristic Design, Emily Powers, Erica Kahr and Laura Plowman from Guinn Middle School; Best Infrastructure Layout, Brian Hendrick, Daniel Lewis and Logan Stamm from Hyde Park Middle School; Most Environmentally Friendly, Chris Daniels, Christian Magrabi and Gabe Ainsworth from Garrett Middle School; Best Residential Development, Chris Congen, Matt Russo and Mike Russo; Best Use of Open Space, Matt Burkett, Mike Stolley and Zachary Rice from Faith Lutheran Junior-Senior High School; Best Essay; Ashley Conte, Breana Wilson and Sara Koch from Faith Lutheran Junior-Senior High School; Best Computer Model, Daniel Shaffer, Mark McKnight and Sam Nolting from Hyde Park Middle School; Best Oral Presentation, Ben Waggoner, Michael Pride and Sam Panice from Silvestri Middle School; and Best Energy Source, Meilin Young, Meti Getachew and Susan Quassani from Guinn Middle School.