Future Problem Solvers win at State Bowl Competition
Published 2:08 pm Friday, April 24, 2015
The Future Problem Solvers group at the State Bowl Competition. Front, from left, Ellie Ross, Kayla Vann and Miller Zurfluh; second row, Coach Eliese DeGroff, Coach Patti Rabil, Jailyn Williams, Madison Taylor, Emily Duncan, Kayla Felts and Taylor Rideout; third row, Brianna Karmilovich, Cindy Mitrovic, Angela Bird, Kali Filhart and Coach Liz Burgess; back, Rueban Leonard, Connor McCoy, Kendell Brown and Bowen Armbruster. — SUBMITTED
NORFOLK
Franklin students participating in the Future Problem Solving Program in all three schools traveled to Granby High School, Norfolk, to compete in the 28th Future Problem Solving State Bowl this past weekend.
The winners at State Bowl go on to represent the Commonwealth at the Future Problem Solving International Conference at Iowa State University in June. This year 16 students in team competitions received bids to the State Bowl Competition and several brought back awards to Franklin. The fifth-grade team in the junior division placed third for their presentation of their Action Plan, while the Senior Division team received an Honorable Mention. The Senior Division Team also took third place in the Global Issues Team Writing Competition.
A few students and coaches had comments to make about the FPS State Bowl and the FPS program.
Coach Liz Burgess said, “My fifth graders thought it was a valuable experience, one they hope to repeat next year. They thoroughly enjoyed the entire event!”
“It was an incredible experience working and performing with close friends, and winning an award was fabulous!” explained freshman Cindy Mitrovic, who attends Appomattox Regional Governors School but still competes with the Franklin City Public Schools Future Problem Solving team, as she has done in years past.
Kali Filhart, who also attends Appomattox Regional Governors School but competes with the Franklin City Public Schools Future Problem Solving team, added, “When they called us for third place, it was almost surreal. We had a strong team and it took a lot of hard work to do so well I am so glad to have been a part of that experience.”
Kayla Felts, a sixth grader and first-time participant in State Bowl Competition stated, “It was nerve-wracking but fun! You had to think on your feet. The writing was exciting because I liked to make up futuristic ideas and inventions based on research we had done.”
Eliese DeGroff, a novice coach being mentored by Patti Rabil, felt it was an awesome experience.
“I was impressed with students’ abilities to take a futuristic situation on Enhancing Human Potential, which was the topic for State Bowl Competition, and problem solve to find challenges and solutions to solve the issue,” she said. “I loved watching the creativity students had to take their written Action Plan and develop a presentation. The seniors did it in two hours! I cannot wait till next year! I am completely sold on the program.”
Future Problem Solving is an International Program involving students from 16 countries and 46 states. Students work through a rigorous problem solving process involving research, critical thinking and real world problem solving. This year students tackled topics dealing with: Impact in Social Media, Processed Foods, Propaganda, Enhancing Human Potential and Intellectual Property. FPS is ranked the No. 1 critical thinking program internationally for students in grades 3-12. The FPSPI Mission is to develop the ability of young people globally to design and promote positive futures through problem solving using critical and creative thinking.
If you would like to know more about the program, you can visit the FPS website at www.FPSPI.org.
