Collaborative efforts win engineering award

Collaborative efforts wins Browns Bay School engineering award

A Browns Bay School students’ project to design and build a fitness trail for physical fitness won the school a merit at the 2007 Transpower Neighbourhood Engineers Awards.

The annual Transpower Neighbourhood Engineers Awards recognizes the best and most innovative collaboration between students, teachers and volunteer engineers. The aim of the awards is to create a greater awareness of the engineering profession and encourage innovative thinking the in the areas of engineering and technology.

Browns Bay School along with: Green Bay School, Green Bay; Bayswater School, Bayswater; and Clevedon School, Clevedon, were all awarded merit prizes which consisted of $500.00 each.

Transpower and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) presented Browns Bay School with their award on Friday 16 November 2007.

Students from the school’s Gifted and Talented Extension programme designed a play area to develop students’ fitness levels. The students looked at: what activities develop fitness; where best to locate the fitness trail; what students wanted in the fitness trail; and what designs they could use for these activities for all users, including the wider community.

The students worked with engineer and past student Andrew Congalton of Engineering Design Consultants Ltd. Mr Congalton commented that his was a ‘unique’ experience, enhanced by the opportunity to give back to his old school.

”I was quite surprised at the final result the students managed to come up with. The simplicity and potential low cost make this a very feasible project to develop and build. [The fitness trail] can provide for participants of all sizes and abilities throughout the course, which was one of the original goals. I would recommend this experience to anyone who can set aside some time from their workload each month, the rewards are well worth it.”

Browns Bay School class teachers Karen Cebalo and Brenda Thorrington said they felt a “wonderful feeling of achievement”. They say working in a “truly collaborative environment” with students, Mr Congalton, the school and community created an enriching experience for all involved.

Papakura’s Sunnyhills School and Glendowie’s Churchill Park School each won the primary award worth $2000.00 for each school.

ENDS

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