Polk County Public Schools
Lakeland’s Lincoln Avenue Academy won significant awards in 2009-2010 in high level national science competitions. The school’s advisor to both competitions was Lincoln Avenue Academy teacher Mijana Lockard.
The school won third prize nationally in Siemens’ “We Can Change The World Challenge.” Siemens is a New York City-based electronics and engineering company that operates in the industrial, energy and healthcare fields. The company’s We Can Change The World Challenge is a sustainability competition in which students identify environmental problems and then plan and develop solutions.
A team from Lincoln tackled the problems of leaky water faucets on their campus and students wasting water while handwashing. They tested school faucets, did data collection and researched behaviors that could conserve water during handwashing. They distributed surveys schoolwide, sought the advice of water conservation experts and used posters, flyers and the school’s in-house television channel to educate students and staff about water use and conservation. Lincoln’s team worked with the school’s PTA to raise funds to replace leaky faucets and also used recycled runoff water to water classroom gardens. The school is also working with the school district’s Green Initiative staff to make changes in other schools to conserve water.
Lincoln’s We Can Change The World Challenge team consisted of Anna Case, Isabel Carillo, Emily Crowley and Emma Wallace. Their advisor was teacher Mijana Lockard.
As national third-place winners, the school’s prizes included a $2,000 grant, an opportunity to be featured on a Times Square jumbotron video board in New York and a banner to be displayed on campus.
As advisor of the national third-place team, Lockard’s prizes included a one-year membership to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), free registration and accommodations to a NSTA conference, a pocket video camera and a 12-month subscription to Discovery Education Science magazine. She is also a candidate to be a guest editor on treehugger.com.
Lincoln Avenue was the state winner in the Disney Planet Challenge. The Planet Challenge is a national environmental competition. The competition inspires students to be good stewards of the environment and empowers them to make a difference in their school, home and communities.
Lincoln Avenue students created a multi-media digital portfolio that identified causes of the destruction of the Florida scrub habit and proposed solutions to stop the destruction. Students performed scientific investigations and designed an education and information campaign. They named their project “Scrub Protectors.”
Lockard received a $1,000 grant, a customized gift and recognition certificate. Student members of the “Scrub Protectors” team received a Disney prize pack, DVDs, a reusable water bottle, reusable lunch box and other prizes.
Students involved in the project were: Lauren Butler, Coryell Dreyer, Sammy Elmasri, Sarah Felten, Jatarion Grant, Ethan Higgins, Cameron Giddens, Sarah Goodson, Jackson Jeffares, Sophia Jean, Markhiyah Johnson, Utah Johnson, Alana Jones, Maranda Jones, Molly Jones, Soha Kazmi, Riya Patel, Aria Roundtree, Maggie Ruthven, India Saxena, Lyla Saxena, Emma Schindler, Ke’Andra Smith, Laura Swygert, Adhya Tripathi, Greeshma Venigalla, Isabella Wallace, Saibrianna Walker, Kaitlyn Wallace and Sydney Yard.
