March 19, 2024

NHS students compete in ISU Future Problem Solving Bowl

Five Newton High School students competed in the Iowa State University Future Problem Solving Bowl on Friday and Saturday on the ISU Campus.

The team included seniors Britney Samuelson, Samantha Schwarz and Tim Stammeyer and juniors Emily Forsyth and Jacob Williams. Samuelson, Schwarz, Stammeyer and Forsyth wrote a two-hour packet applying their knowledge of the dangers posed by floating plastic debris in the waters near Hawaii to a scenario in which environmental groups were taking varied approaches to alleviate the problems posed by the errant plastic.

Samuelson, Schwarz and Williams explained their best solution to the plastic contamination problem in a skit they performed Saturday morning. For their efforts, Samuelson, Schwarz and Williams received sixth place and also were awarded the prize for the most creative use of an introduced property.

Their sponsor, Margaret Caldwell, said she was very pleased with their efforts.

“All of the students involved in the State FPS Bowl this last weekend work very hard to pack their schedules with worthwhile activities,” she said. “I have been very impressed with this team’s progress this year. They have gone from beginners to experts in the course of a few months. They are bright, hardworking, dedicated and very cooperative. They made enormous strides in understanding the process and applying it intelligently.”

The students are shown near the Iowa State campanile wearing shirts from past state bowls given to the team by Newton resident and former state director Linda Medland.