Scholars Academy problem-solvers place 6th at international competition

A dozen students from Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy traveled to Indiana University earlier this month for the Future Problem Solving Program International Conference and competed well.

Courtesy Scholars Academy

This was Scholars Academy's third trip to Indiana, and the first time any of their students have placed in the Top 10 of the competition. We featured them before they left in the Young Achievers section.

The sixth grade junior team of Aarushi Patil, Navami Jain, Varun Sattenapalli and Ethan Zhang placed sixth overall. (You have to be a top-10 team to place.)

Laura Scott Cary competed in the Multi-Affiliate Global Issues Competition with three students from other states, and the team placed first in the middle division.

At Indiana University, 58 teams competed in the junior division and 68 in the middle division in teams of four.

The Future Problem Solving Program presents students with various topics, which they must research before a competition. The international conference’s topic was the global status of women. In recent years, topics have included human rights, invasive species, genetic testing and pollution.

At competitions, students are faced with an imagined scene from far into the future connected with the given topic. They have to identify many potential social, scientific, political, economic or technical issues from that scene. Then students have to develop several solutions, choose the best one and write an action plan.

The students also shared a dorm with students from South Korea, and Toni Hemming, a Scholars Academy coach, said living with them was a great opportunity for new friendships and sharing cultural experiences.