Fifth graders awarded for their vision of the future

Fifth graders Aidan Blake, Carey Parkhurst and Sage McPherson present their multimedia chair at Ashby Elementary School. Journal Photo/M. Kate Romano

Two groups of fifth-grade students at Ashby Elementary School are participating in a national technology contest sponsored by ExploraVision/Toshiba.

The goal of this national contest, for kindergartners through 12th graders, is to explore one current technology and develop a new product design for 20 years in the future.

Fifth graders Aidan Blake, Carey Parkhurst, Sage McPherson, Michael Niemi, Shelby Patnaude and Brian Nielsen comprised the two groups

Aidan, Carey and Sage designed a multimedia chair that they called Chaidex, while Michael, Shelby and Brian designed a steam shower that they called Stower.

The teams developed abstracts and bibliography pages while they explored five categories on their chosen topic before they brainstormed and developed their new technological design.

Students started this project in early October meeting one day a week after school until mid-January. They also gave up recess for two weeks to finalize their ideas for the Jan. 30 submission deadline.

Team coaches are Ashby Elementary School teachers Donna Foley and JoAnn Pellecchia. Parent Sandra Parkhurst designed the teams' t-shirt logo.

Regional winners will be announced in March. If either team wins the first round, it will continue on to the national competition in Washington, DC in June.