“The Perry Middle School Community Problem Solving Team members have earned Fourth Place finalists in their Middle Division at International Competition!” said Jan McMullen, The team consists of Olivia Lewis, Presitary (Co-President and Secretary,) Dylan Spenny, Treascondent (Treasurer, Co-Construction and Co-President,) Parker Lewis, Data-Dude (Co-Treasurer and Spreadsheet Specialist,) Nic Spiess (Co-Data Dude and Co-Construction,) Trevor Krauss (Co-Construction and Fundraiser,) and Kaylee Konecny (Co-Secretary).
The team started their project in June 2014 to assist community members with information to improve their recycling habits, and in doing so, help increase the mass of recycling at the Southwest Shiawassee Waste Center located in Morrice. Their “Have a CRUSH on Recycling” Project was successful. The mass of recyclables that Granger reported at the end of 2014 showed an increase in mass of 40 percent since the team began their education program.
Their seventeen-page report of their problem solving process and implementation plan was submitted to Michigan Future Problem Solving Program in March where they earned State Championship at Middle Division. The report was fine tuned for International submission and earned an invitation to go to Iowa State University for the FPSPInternational Competition. “While there, the team had to submit a video, a scrapbook, a display board and be ready for an interview by evaluators. With a score of 507 points the team earned a Fourth Place.
This is an outstanding Achievement for this team of sixth and seventh graders competing against teams of mostly ninth graders in the Middle Division from around the world,” said McMullen. “These outstanding champions of Recycling from Perry, Michigan, want our community to continue to strive to improve recycling habits and have a ‘CRUSH on Recycling!’”
Shown on June 13 at the ISU Coliseum were (back row, from left): Nic, Dylan, Trevor and Coach Jan McMullen plus (front row, from left) Kaylee, Olivia, Parker; absent from photo was Miranda Lewis, assistant coach.
