PEACHTREE CORNERS -- Students from and won a number of top awards at a recent annual international competition aimed at engaging students in creative problem solving.
Competing in the Future Problem Solving International Conference June 7-10 at the Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana were:
Simpson Elementary School:
- Sean Comerford
- Griffin Evans
- Alex Kim
- Sarah Reidy
- Danhy Schall
- Anna Steingruber
- Davis Stewart
Norcross High School:
- Allison Fisher
- Michelle Fisher
- Julien Gelly
- Sarah Hensey
- Claire Della Mahon
- Elizabeth Waid
Allison Fisher, rising senior at Norcross High School, was named Grand Champion of the Senior Division Global Issues Individual Competition with her 1st place finish.
Michelle Fisher, rising sophomore at Norcross High School, won 4th place in the Middle Division Global Issues Individual Competition.
Anna Steingruber, from Simpson Elementary, was part of the 1st place team in the Junior Division Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Competition.
Simpson Elementary students, Sean Comerford, Griffin Evans, Alex Kim, Sarah Reidy, Danny Schall, Anna Steingruber, and Davis Stewart, won 5th place in the Junior Division Presentation of Action Plan, with their presentation "Alice in Pharma-Land."
Also competing were a team of Norcross HS rising sophomores Julien Gelly, Sarah Hensey, Claire Della Mahon and Elizabeth Waid, who represented GA in the Middle Division Global Issues Team Competition.
In the competition students research real world concerns (the topic for the International Competition was Pharmaceuticals) and apply a rigorous a six-step problem solving process to explore challenges and propose action plans to complex societal problems.
Additionally they prepare a creative and entertaining presentation to explain the action plan generated by the team during the written problem solving competition.
The International Conference featured four days of stimulating competitive problem solving, cooperative educational seminars, and social activities.
Some 2,400 students and coaches attended the FPS International Conference. Top problem solvers from 39 states plus Australia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, China, Portugal, Singapore, Great Britain, South Africa, Switzerland, and Turkey attended.
Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) engages students in creative problem solving. Founded in 1974 by creativity pioneer, Dr. E Paul Torrance, FPSPI stimulates critical and creative thinking skills and encourages students to develop a vision for the future. More information on the Future Problem Program can be found at: www.fpspi.org
Editor's note: Peachtree Corners resident, Diane Fisher, submitted this news and photo for publication.
