Sandy, Utah—Two students from Sandy-based Beehive Science and Technology have captured top prices in the national Broadcom MASTERS competition for their STEM projects held Oct. 18 through 23 in Washington, D.C.
Beehive eighth grade students Sidor Clare and Kassie Holt created building materials that could one day be made on Mars. This means that astronauts would not be required to bring building materials with them to build on the red planet. Clare received one of the competition’s top prizes, the $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation. Clare said their brick was so strong that the students had to use a concrete crusher to test it. Holt received a first place Technology Award for $3,500 and an iPad.
The only other Utah students to win an award at the competition was Saint Joseph Catholic High School freshman, Mercedes Randhahn. Her project involved the safe disposal of leftover and unneeded opioids at home. Randhahn won second place in the Engineering Award and $2,500 and an iPad.
In addition, Beehive received $2,000 and Saint Joseph received $1,000 from the Broadcom MASTERS to benefit their science programs.
The three Utah students were selected from 2,348 applicants from 47 states.
According to a news release provided by the Broadcom MASTERS, “The Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars), a program of the Society for Science and the Public, inspires middle school students to follow their personal passions to exciting college and career pathways in STEM. Thirty finalists took home more than $100,000 in awards.”
Finalists for the competition were judged on projects they presented at state or reginal science fairs, along with their knowledge of STEM subjects and their demonstration of skills in a series of hands-on challenges. This year, of the 30 finalists, 18 were girls and 12 were boys.
