March 04, 2019
More than 200 students on teams representing six high schools and middle schools took part in the annual Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) competition on Feb. 19 at Trine University.
The event is a qualifier for the TEAMS national competition, to be held during the national Technology Student Association (TSA) conference June 28 to July 2 at National Harbor near Washington, D.C..
During the two parts of the contest conducted at Trine, the teams, consisting of eight students, completed a multiple-choice test and a design/build challenge, where they worked on and tested their solution to an assigned project. A third portion of the competition was conducted at the schools.
The theme for this year’s TEAMS competitions is “The Engineering Brain.”
The Trine event awards travelling trophies to the teams with the highest scores on the multiple-choice test in Divisions I (11th- and 12th-grade teams) and II (ninth- and 10th-grade teams).
A team from Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, was the champion in Division I, taking the John J. McKetta Outstanding Junior Engineering Team Award. Team members were Elisabeth Casetti, Seunghoon Sun, Courtney Sharpe, Ian Coates, Philipp Roehm, Ricky Chapple, David Simonetti and Rajeev Datta.
Another team from Penn won Division II and the Mike McKetta Outstanding Junior Engineering Team Award. Team members included Peter Tiebout, Anna Van Avermaete, Olivia Venditti, Sydney Domal, David Wang, Ben Bedient, Jody Meier and Ryan Ludwig.
Both teams were coached by Rebecca Tagliaferri.
A team from Discovery Middle School in Granger, Indiana, won the middle school division. Team members were Rudra Patel, Carl Xu, Brock Oldick, Derick Shi, Zichu Wang, Arda Kurama, Cole Klinedinst and Drew Wolter. The team is coached by Scott Vandygriff.
Teams from Canterbury High School in Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo (Michigan) Christian High School, LaPorte High School and Schmucker Middle School in Mishawaka also competed.
The TEAMS competition is hosted by Trine University’s McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering.
- The Penn High School 11th/12th C Team won Division I of the TEAMS competition at Trine University. Front, from left, Coach Rebecca Tagliaferri, Elisabeth Casetti, Seunghoon Sun, Courtney Sharpe, Ian Coates; back, Philipp Roehm, Ricky Chapple, David Simonetti and Rajeev Datta.
- The Penn High School 9th/10th B Team won Division II of the TEAMS competition at Trine University. Front, from left, Peter Tiebout, Anna Van Avermaete, Olivia Venditti, Sydney Domal; back, Coach Rebecca Tagliaferri, David Wang, Ben Bedient, Joey Meier and Ryan Ludwig.
- The Discovery Middle School A team won the middle school division of the TEAMS competition at Trine University. Front, from left, Rudra Patel, Carl Xu, Brock Oldick, Derick Shi; back, Zichu Wang, Arda Kurama, Cole Klinedinst, Drew Wolter and Coach Scott Vandygriff.
Four projects completed by staff in Trine University’s Office of University Marketing and Communications were recently recognized with 2026 Best of District V Awards by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
A team of Trine University master of physician assistant studies (MPAS) defeated other physician programs around the state to win the Student Challenge Bowl at the Indiana Association of Physician Assistants (IAPA) conference.
Staff from Education One, Trine University’s charter school authorizer, attended the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, from Oct. 27-29.