The Snowflake Unified School District Governing Board heard from Snowflake Junior High School students Corynn Cottrell and Dylan Neff during their March 9 meeting regarding a science project they are taking part in and is getting a lot of attention.
The after-school science project began when teacher Michael Eilertson heard about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow science competition. It has become a rewarding experience for the 20 students participating. They met after school and brainstormed about a project that would be beneficial. One of the student’s dad’s is in law enforcement and had talked about the elk problem on the roads.
Students took on the challenge of designing and building an Elk and Deer Animal Detection System, which they hope to set up eventually. The hope of the project is that it will save the lives of people and the wildlife.
The detection system will cover 100’ of fence line and if an animal approaches, the solar light will trigger each of the lights in the 100’ turning them on to warn a driver that an elk is in the road.
“We are hoping for mass production somehow, we’re not really sure how. Collisions with deer is a real problem and our project is a real solution,” said Cottrell.
SJHS was one of the 10 finalists among the 50 state winners. They took home $25,000 at the state level and could receive $50,000 nationally with the possibility of being one of the top three that could take home $150,000.
“I’ve seen hundreds of science projects and not seen one this practical,” said governing board member Charles Foote.
Superintendent Hollis Merrell thanked students for the presentation and wished them a safe trip.
Eilertson said that there is a Public Choice Award section that the school has been vying for first place with one other school that will award $20,000 to the school with the most votes.
To see a video of the student’s project go to You Tube and search Snowflake Junior High School, Arizona and vote for their project through Twitter at www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/home.html.
