Release Date: June 18, 2012
June 18, 2012 – WASHINGTON -- The National Academy of Engineering's EngineerGirl! website today announced the winners of its 2012 essay competition, Food Engineering. This year’s national contest asked students in grades three to 12 to choose a food item and explain the way it is produced and how engineers are involved in the process. Older students were also asked to explain how a technology that is critical to the food production process works, and to describe the different types of engineers who might have contributed to its design. This year’s 1,000 essays were the most submissions in the contest’s history. Prizes were awarded to students in three categories based upon grade level.
“I am thrilled to see that so many young people are interested in engineering,” said NAE President Charles M. Vest. “Not only is this year’s record number of submissions very encouraging, but it’s exciting to know that so many students are thinking about the innovations of the next century.”
Kimberly Kink, a fifth-grader from Sunnyslope Elementary School in Phoenix, placed first among third- to fifth-grade students for her description of the food engineering behind the potato chip. Caitlin Coverstone, a seventh-grader from Longview, Texas, won first place among entries from grades six-eight for her explanation of the roles engineers play in the agricultural and manufacturing processes of the potato chip. Among ninth- to 12th-graders, Kayla Foyt, a 10th-grade student from Emma Willard School in Wynantskill, N.Y., placed first for her essay about the different manufacturing systems used to make applesauce.
Read all of the essays.
Prizes ranged from $500 for first place, $250 for second, and $100 for the third-place winner. Certificates were given for honorable mentions. Additional winners are listed below:
Grades three to five:
- Second Place: Adley Barham, in third-grade at Williams Traditional Magnet Elementary School in Maumelle, Ark., explained how ice cream is made with the help of engineers.
- Third Place: Brooklyn Denson, in third-grade at Lincoln Elementary in Valrico, Fla., described the engineering standards and design process behind spaghetti sauce.
- Honorable Mention: Erin Auston, in fourth-grade at Springwoods Elementary School in Woodbridge, Va., wrote a detailed account of a potato chip’s journey to production from the perspective of the potato chip.
- Honorable Mention: Zo Pancoast, in fourth-grade at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Berkeley, Calif., wrote about the importance of engineers in making ice cream have the right consistency.
Grades six to eight:
- Second Place: Calista Kub, in eighth-grade at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colo., wrote about the batch pasteurizer used in the production of ice cream.
- Third Place: Alison Wakeland, in sixth-grade at Grandview R-II Middle School in Hillsboro, Mo., described the different machines used to make applesauce.
- Honorable Mention: Ramya Muthurkrishnan, in sixth-grade at Pierce Middle School in West Chester, Pa., explained how potato chips are packaged with the help of engineers.
Grades nine to 12:
- Second Place: Rebecca Phaneuf, a 10th-grader being home-schooled in Virginia Beach, Va., described industrial and chemical engineering methods used in the production of ice cream.
- Third Place: Grace Ying, in 11th grade at Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Fla., wrote about the role engineers will play in improving the production of applesauce.
- Honorable Mention: Chet Seaman, in 12th grade at A. Crawford Mosley High School in Panama City, Fla., explained the lab work by engineers that has contributed to the bread-making process.
- Honorable Mention: RayLee Peterson, a ninth-grader being home-schooled in Frederick, Md., wrote about robotic automated systems that could advance applesauce production in the future.
EngineerGirl! is designed for middle school girls and offers information about various engineering fields and careers, as well as games, books, and other resources on engineering. A survey of contest participants indicated that 63 percent of girls were more likely to consider an engineering career after writing their essay. EngineerGirl! and Engineer Your Life (http://www.engineeryourlife.org), a website for academically prepared high school girls, are part of NAE's ongoing efforts to increase the diversity of the engineering work force.
The mission of NAE is to advance the well-being of the nation by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and by marshalling the expertise and insights of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to the federal government on matters involving engineering and technology. The NAE is part of the National Academies (along with the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council), an independent, nonprofit organization chartered by Congress to provide objective analysis and advice to the nation on matters of science and technology.
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