Birchwood Team Headed to Future Problem Solving International Competition
Birchwood students participated in the virtual State Bowl of Future Problem Solving in April. Their ingenuity in tackling massive problems such as youth in competitive sports, wearable technology, human environmental impact, and personalized medicine earned them many awards and an invitation to the International Bowl for one team. We are so proud of these students whose entries placed in the top of each category.
Junior 4th place team: Joshua Chen (6th grade), Joshua Gordon (6th grade), Lorn Mahoney (6th grade), Jonathan Samulak (6th grade)
Intermediate 2nd place team, invited to the International Bowl: Lydia Chen (8th grade ), Cadence Guo (8th grade), Omar Issa (8th grade), Chloe Leng (8th grade), Manan Raina (8th grade)
Individuals:
Intermediate 2nd place- Cadence Guo (8th grade)
Intermediate 3rd place- Jordan Gordon (7th grade)
Intermediate 5th place- Ryan Vaziri (8th grade)
Scenario Writing:
Junior 1st place- Joshua Gordon (6th grade) for “The HyperWatch”
Junior 2nd place Manya Raina (6th grade) for “Fed Up”
Intermediate 2nd place- Jordan Gordon (7th grade) for “The Dust Storm”
Intermediate 3rd place- Sinan Haufe (8th grade) for “Silver”
Future Problem Solving International is a dynamic program involving thousands of students annually around the world. The program's mission is to develop the ability of young people globally to design and achieve positive futures through problem solving using critical and creative thinking. Developed in 1974 by creativity pioneer, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, students apply a six-step model which teaches critical and creative thinking, problem solving, and decision making. Students compete in teams of four or in the individual category. In the scenario writing component students develop short stories related to one of five annual FPS topics. Set at least 20 years in the future, the story is an imagined, but logical, outcome of actions or events taking place in the world.
The intermediate team consisting of Lydia Chen (8th grade of Cleveland), Cadence Guo (8th grade of Broadview Heights), Omar Issa (8th grade of Westlake), Chloe Leng (8th grade of Hinkley), Manan Raina (8th grade of Brecksville) have earned a place at the International Conference, focusing on the topic of neurotechnology. Though virtual, it will offer students many opportunities to collaborate with their peers around the world. We wish our team focus and clarity as they delve into this complex topic to prepare for the coming competition.
