John Yeates Middle School students who won firsts and seconds in an engineering design competition at Old Dominion University last weekend were glad the event wasn’t cancelled due to snow, according to teacher Louis Garland.

Garland sponsors the CHROME (Cooperating Hampton Roads Organizations for Minorities in Engineering) club, whose members joined kids from the Technology Student Association, sponsored by teacher Alton Christmas, for a total of 20 students representing John Yeates on Feb. 21.

The competition at ODU’s Batten College of Engineering and Technology has been held for many years, Garland stated, adding, “(It’s) a great forum for students who may be considering a career in engineering

“Elementary, middle and high school students have the opportunity to meet volunteers who have been through programs like this one growing up,” according to Garland.

One activity for middle-schoolers was The Amazing Amelia Earhart Competition, where students built flyable planes from household throwaways like water bottles and paper towel rolls.

Other competitions, Garland added, had them construct truss-type bridges from a balsa-wood kit, and designing ways of dropping eggs from the second floor without breaking them.

“Other activities and demonstrations had students designing and competing with each other … not (for) prizes,” according to Garland.

After-school activity buses were unavailable to get the JYMS students to Norfolk and back, but parents came through with rides.

While the Suffolk students had believed they’d be competing against 600 other potential future engineers, however, the inclement weather meant the field was closer to 200, Garland added.

Gabriel James, a member of both of the JYMS clubs represented, won a first place in the flight competition. CHROME students Maverick Lazono and Leif Whalen won a second-place together, while fellow CHROME member Heather Eichman was close behind in third.

Among CHROME members, Keagan DeLong and Kaylea Spiroff won the model bridge competition. The egg drop went to Leandro Lopez and Joshua Aldridge.

Brianna Rawson won an impromptu competition to build a self-propelled system of hauling pennies stuffed in a deflated balloon. Kaylea Spiroff and Keagan DeLong came in second place together.

“All in all, JYMS CHROME and TSA clubs took first- or second-place in all middle school engineering design challenges held on that frigid Saturday,” Garland stated.

“The students said they were glad they participated, even if their friends were home playing in the snow.”