DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Michigan – Middle school students from Dearborn Heights Montessori Center (DHMC) received top honors in the Michigan Regional Future City Competition sponsored by The Engineering Society of Detroit. The competition challenges 6th, 7th and 8th grades students to envision a city in the future in which they would like to live.
Future City team members from Dearborn Heights Montessori taking the stage to present their display are, from left, Andrew Ward, Lindsey Seashore and Cameron Kabacinski.
The DHMC student team took third place in this 17th annual competition that drew 600 students from 25 schools throughout the state of Michigan. DHMC students also received two special awards including Best Futuristic Transportation and Best Use of Energy.
To prepare for the competition, students were encouraged to apply their knowledge of advanced life sciences, solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, thermal power and bio power in team designs and presentations.
“The students’ model represented their ideas very well. I believe they earned their awards based on the ingenuity of their concepts, research, understanding of environmental impact and integration of their solution throughout the city,” said Sue Fitzpatrick, the team’s teacher-mentor. “Their alternative energy fuel solution, algae bio-fuel, was carbon neutral, made their city waste and water treatment efficient and its byproducts were used to produce environmental sound building materials. Judges also commented on the cleverness and quality of their oral presentation.”
Middle school staff Anne Devore, John Bagley and Anne Marie Miruzzi also advised and supported the team during the five month project.
The DHMC team included Fouad Alzaroui, Sarah Angold-Stephens, Gabriel Currie, Nicholas Dondero, Dale Garner, Silan Fadlallah, Carlton Helwig, Cameron Kabacinski, James Kosiba, Kennedy Kubica, Andrew Littleton, Keauna Lenton, Ryan Mondelek, Nicholas Nunu, Lindsey Seashore, Cole Stockinger and Andrew Ward.
About Dearborn Heights Montessori Center
Dearborn Heights Montessori Center (DHMC) is a non-profit educational community founded in 1972. Celebrating its 40th anniversary year, DHMC is the largest and longest-established Montessori school in western Wayne County. Programs include toddler, preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school as well as summer programs and academic tutoring. Day care and latchkey are also available for enrolled children. DHMC has received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society, Michigan Montessori Society, and the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS). DHMC toddler, preschool, day care and latchkey programs, along with its satellites Livonia Montessori Center and Plymouth-Canton Montessori School, are licensed by the Michigan Division of Child and Adult Licensing. More information is available at www.dhmontessori.org.