Press release

20 National Finalist Teams Advance in the 17th Annual eCYBERMISSION Competition

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The U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) announced that 20
student teams from across the United States have been selected as
national finalists in the 17th annual eCYBERMISSION
competition. The web-based science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM) program—sponsored by the U.S. Army and administered by the National
Science Teachers Association
(NSTA)—is designed to cultivate student
interest in STEM by encouraging students in grades six through nine to
develop solutions to real-world problems in their local communities.

The national finalist teams will advance to eCYBERMISSION’s National
Judging & Educational Event (NJ&EE), taking place in the Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area June 16-21.

The national finalists were selected from a competitive group of 59
regional finalists. A panel of judges consisting of U.S. Army scientists
and engineers and other STEM professionals evaluated teams based on
criteria including innovative ideas, benefit to the community, and
overall development of the project.

“The U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program is proud to offer national
STEM opportunities like eCYBERMISSION,” said Christina Weber, AEOP
Cooperative Agreement Manager. “It’s always exciting to see so many
talented students participate in our competitions, summer enrichment
activities, and apprenticeship programs, and to watch them develop as
they graduate from one program to the next. They’re becoming the next
generation of thought leaders in science and technology and it’s amazing
to be a part of that. I’m honored to congratulate the regional winners
in this year’s eCYBERMISSION competition, and I look forward to seeing
each of them at the National Judging and Educational Event. I truly hope
all of our eCYBERMISSION students will continue the important work
they’ve started in their communities, and I challenge all of our 9th
grade students to apply their talents next year in the Junior Science
and Humanities Symposium!”

“We never cease to be amazed and inspired by the creativity and
commitment of students and team advisors participating in the
eCYBERMISSION competition,” said NSTA Executive Director Dr. David
Evans. “We applaud the national finalists on their accomplishments so
far and wish them the best of luck as they advance to the finals.”

The national finalists focused their projects on one of seven mission
challenges affecting their community, including alternative sources of
energy; the environment; food; health and fitness; force and motion;
national security and safety; and robotics. As national finalists, each
team member will receive $2,000 in U.S. Series EE Savings Bonds and an
all-expenses paid trip to NJ&EE to compete for the first-place national
award in their grade.

In addition to the national awards, five teams will each receive AEOP’s
STEM-In-Action grant. These grants offer teams the opportunity to
develop a concrete plan to further develop their project into a mature
and scalable solution, and effectively implement these solutions into
their local communities. Each winning team will be awarded up to a
$5,000 grant. The grants are independent of the selection of the
national winners.

2019 National Finalist Teams

North Central Region

  • 6th – Team Microfiber Fighters, Bay
    Village, OH
  • 7th – Yooper Lights, Lake Linden, MI
  • 8th – Denial Moving Company, Columbus,
    OH
  • 9th – The Powerhouse Mitochondria,
    Machesney Park, IL

North East Region

  • 6th – Have A Say!, Ashburn, VA
  • 7th – Green Tea, Clarksburg, MD
  • 8th – Renaissance 1, St. Albans, VT
  • 9th – Girls in Tech 2018, Alexandria,
    VA

South East Region

  • 6th – Las GHG Busters, Aguadilla, PR
  • 7th – Organic Odyssey, Raleigh, NC
  • 8th –Antastic Acids, Madison, AL
  • 9th – The Sandbaggers, Miatland, FL

South Central Region

  • 6th –H.O.T.C.A.R.S., Lubbock, TX
  • 7th – Oh, Deer!, Lubbock, TX
  • 8th – Team Vision, Highlands Ranch, CO
  • 9th – I-ANN Tech, Richmond, TX

West Region

  • 6th – Stumptown Glucobots, Portland, OR
  • 7th – Think Blue, Draper, UT
  • 8th – Bio4Ever, Bothell, WA
  • 9th – Phantastic Phage Phinders, West
    Jordan, UT

2019 STEM-In-Action Grant Recipients

  • 6th – Stumptown Glucobots, Portland, OR
  • 7th – Oh, Deer!, Lubbock, TX
  • 7th – Team Heely-Wheelys, Andover, MA
  • 8th –Antastic Acids, Madison, AL
  • 8th – Team Vision, Highlands Ranch, CO

NJ&EE is a week-long event that provides educational opportunities and
team-building exercises for the eCYBERMISSION national finalists and
STEM-in-Action recipients. Activities include hands-on STEM workshops
led by Army scientists and engineers, a special session hosted by the
National Inventors Hall of Fame, a visit to Capitol Hill to meet with
members of Congress and a tour of the National Mall, and a live-streamed
showcase where students will display and demonstrate their winning
ideas. The highlight of the NJ&EE will be the awards luncheon and
ceremony, where the national winning team from each grade will be
announced.

About the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)

The United States Army has long recognized that a scientifically and
technologically literate citizenry is our nation’s best hope for a
secure, rewarding, and successful future. For over 50 years, the Army
has supported a wide range of educational opportunities in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for our youth, college
and graduate students, as well as our valued teachers. Our nation’s
economy has greatly benefited from the technological achievements of the
last century and is destined for greater achievements throughout the
21st century. For more information about AEOP, please visit www.usaeop.com.

About eCYBERMISSION

eCYBERMISSION is a web-based science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) competition for students in grades six through nine
that promotes self-discovery and enables all students to recognize the
real-life applications of STEM. Teams of three or four students are
instructed to ask questions (for science) or define problems (for
engineering), and then construct explanations (for science) or design
solutions (for engineering) based on identified problems in their
community. Students compete for State, Regional, and National Awards.
The U.S. Army is committed to answering the Nation’s need for increased
national STEM literacy and to expanding STEM education opportunities
across the country to open doors to new career paths for American
students that lead to a brighter tomorrow.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National
Science Teachers Association
is the largest professional
organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science
teaching and learning, preschool through college. NSTA’s membership
includes approximately 50,000 science teachers, science supervisors,
administrators, scientists, business representatives, and others
involved in science education.