ARLINGTON, VA — June 7, 2012 — Eight student teams from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Schools around the world have been selected as state finalists in the eCYBERMISSION Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Army and managed by the Research, Development and Engineering Command.

eCYBERMISSION is designed to share the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education with the leaders of tomorrow and encourage them to understand the real-life applications of these subjects. The competition is open to all states and territories and DoDEA, which is considered as a state for this competition.

DoDEA's winners are:

6th Grade

1st Place: Brain Power, McCool E. Middle School, Santa Rita, Guam
Team Members: Jacob Augelli, Andrew Cain, Eve Estrada, Brittany Grisham

2nd Place: Mini Michelle, Macdonald Intermediate School, Fort Knox, Ky.
Team Members: Casey Doerer, Macy Joyner, Natalie Rogers, Meredith Ward

7th Grade

1st Place: Pi=4, Osan American Middle School, Osan, South Korea
Team Members: Matthew Burbee, Joy Kim, Jonas Knudsen, Kyler Nelson

2nd Place: Gardenia, Osan American Middle School, Osan, South Korea
Team Members: Cana Clark, Charles Granda, Leah Park

8th Grade

1st Place: Etna Rovers, Stephen Decatur Middle School, Signonella, Italy
Team Members: Dylan Anderson, Joshua Serna, Grace Tully

2nd Place: Ryukyu Girls, Kadena Middle School, Okinawa, Japan
Team Members: Kaitlyn Duryea, Nuree Howell, Shani Summers, Kaitlyn Unger

9th Grade

1st Place: MAMA, Vicenza High School, Vicenza, Italy
Team Members: Alexis Estello, Ashley Franklin, Meridenne Sweeney, Matthew Waddell

2nd Place: Pretty Little Liars, Vicenza High School, Vicenza, Italy
Team Members: Keysha Colon, Roberto Ortega, Iulian Popescu

First Place in each grade in each state awards each student on the team a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond. Second Place in each grade awards each student on the team a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.

The 6th Grade Winning Team, "Brain Power," from McCool E. Middle School and 9th Grade Winning Team, "MAMA," from Vicenza High School were both selected as Regional Finalists and advanced to the next level of judging. Though neither team moved on to the National level, it is an impressive feat to make it to the regional judging round.

"eCYBERMISSION extends student learning beyond the classroom and textbooks. It challenges middle school students to identify a problem in their community and research a solution," said Kim Day, Science and Mathematics Branch Chief, DoDEA. "While working to solve the problem, students come to realize how science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM can be applied with large-scale social and community impact."

Teams identify a real problem in their community and use the scientific method/inquiry or engineering design process to propose a solution. Teams submit a Mission Folder, the official write-up of their project, via the eCYBERMISSION website.

Since the program's inception in 2002, more than 100,000 students from across the nation and in U.S. territories and DoDEA schools world-wide have participated. The eCYBERMISSION competition is a free, web-based science, technology, engineering and math competition for students in grades six through nine.

The U.S. Army has awarded more than $8.5 million in U.S. Savings Bonds in support of the STEM leaders of tomorrow.

DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools located in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.