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Students from the Olympic Peninsula Academy (OPA) showcased their innovation and engineering skills at the Future City Competition on January 16 and 17. This year’s theme, “Above the Current,” challenged teams to design floating cities capable of addressing rising sea levels. The regional competition brought together 23 teams from 13 schools across Alaska, Idaho, Washington, and Montana, offering students a platform to present their creative solutions to real-world challenges.
OPA’s teams impressed judges with their thoughtful designs, technical knowledge, and teamwork. Their entries included detailed 1,500-word essays exploring how to construct safe, functional, and disaster-resilient floating cities. These efforts earned the academy multiple accolades, highlighting the students’ hard work and ingenuity.
Each of OPA’s teams achieved notable success:
- 8th Grade Team – New Venice
- Secured 4th Place Overall in the regional competition.
- Won 2nd Place in the NCEES Knowledge of Surveying Practices, earning a $100 prize.
- 7th Grade Team – New Hollywood
- Received the award for Best City Design for Protecting from Natural Disasters.
- Honored with the Ice Breakers Award for fostering connections with other teams.
- 6th Grade Team – Sequim Bay City
- Achieved 3rd Place in the People’s Choice (Student) category.
- Earned an Honorable Mention for NCEES Knowledge of Surveying Practices at their grade level.
OPA’s success was the result of a collaborative effort among students, mentors, and volunteers. Enrichment Coach and Advisor Lilly Hardesty guided the teams throughout the competition, while engineer mentors Jonathan Boehme and Vince McIntyre provided technical expertise to help students refine their designs. Parent volunteer Susan Baritelle also offered invaluable classroom support. Together, this dedicated team supported students from grades 5 through 8, including Vaughn McCarter, Tegan Avery, Landen Parrish, Emma Abken, Jojo Bauer, Sadie Canty, Hyatt Preston, Brayden Baritelle, Rivers Maynard, and Glenn McCarter, as they worked to bring their innovative ideas to life.
OPA’s performance at the Future City Competition highlights the academy’s commitment to fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. By tackling complex, real-world issues, students gained hands-on experience that prepares them for future challenges.
Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding achievements and dedication. Your innovative ideas and collaborative spirit continue to make OPA a leader in inspiring young minds.