On Saturday, Dec. 3, nine teams of gifted and talented students from across the Roanoke Valley will participate in Roanoke Valley Governor’s School for Science and Technology’s inaugural Shelly STEM Challenge.
The Shelly STEM Challenge is a single-day competition during which students work in teams to solve STEM problems set forth by local industry partners. A series of Challenges will take place throughout the year, and the inaugural Challenge will take place on December 3.
Western Virginia Water Authority is the school’s industry partner for the inaugural Challenge. The Water Authority will provide a current, real-world problem that involves the distribution of water through their pipe system, and they will evaluate the students’ solutions at the end of the competition. Students will develop and construct their solutions using equipment and materials provided at the Challenge.
The competition is named in memory of the late Dr. Richard Shelly, Roanoke Valley Governor’s School’s founding director. The school’s current director, Mark Levy, will pay tribute to Dr. Shelly during the closing program, and Dr. Shelly’s family will speak at that time, as well. The construction materials that students will use during the Challenge will be purchased with funds donated to the school in Dr. Shelly’s memory.
The Challenge will begin at 10:00 a.m. and work will conclude at 3:00 p.m. Evaluation will take place from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m., followed by the closing program and the awards presentation. The public is invited to Roanoke Valley Governor’s School’s lecture hall for the closing program and awards ceremony at 4:00 p.m. and will have an opportunity to view the students’ solutions at the ceremony’s conclusion.
Contact the school’s director, Mark Levy, or the school’s guidance counselor, Kathy Sebolt, at 540.853.2116.
