{"id":5399,"date":"2019-04-23T12:33:15","date_gmt":"2019-04-23T20:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communications.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us\/?p=5399"},"modified":"2019-04-23T12:33:15","modified_gmt":"2019-04-23T20:33:15","slug":"caring-kenai-2019-competition-raises-bar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/comm-test\/2019\/04\/23\/caring-kenai-2019-competition-raises-bar\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for the Kenai 2019 Competition raises the bar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat can I do, invent or create to better care for the environment of the Kenai Peninsula or improve the area\u2019s preparedness for a natural disaster?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

In the 29th<\/sup> year of the competition, on April 18, 2019, Homer High student Austin Cline took first place honors and a $1,600 cash award in the annual Caring for the Kenai<\/a> environmental and natural disaster preparedness contest.
\n\"1<\/a>
\nAustin\u2019s proposal to recycle plastic waste into 3-D printer filament wowed the crowd and judges at the Kenai Central High School Little Theater. Cline explained:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a simple process that I already have grants for … it’s to turn plastics into 3-D printing material.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Taking second place and earning $1,100 was the team of Lindy Guernsey and Akilena Veach from Seward High School. Lindy and Akilena demonstrated a working drone which they had built at school, using 3-D printers. The girls use the drone to survey Seward\u2019s floodplains. The girls\u2019 work has supplied the Seward Flood Board with crucial data to help prevent property damage during flooding events.
\nLindy said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked with our outward bound program and built the drone then we heard about Caring for the Kenai and our science teacher encouraged us to enter.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Akilena added:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe learned how to fly the drone on a computer simulator after we built it, we\u2019ve flying for three years we\u2019ve been working with younger students so the program will continue after we graduate.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"2<\/a>
\nIn third place and claiming a $900 prize was Connections home school student Anna DeVolld. Anna will be visiting local Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club meetings to share information about the role of pollinators in our ecosystem. As part of her presentation, Anna shared a \u2018Pollinator Pack\u2019 she has developed; a cluster of plants which support pollinators like bees and bats. These packs of plants will also be distributed to Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club members, \u201cI\u2019m also giving educational programs about pollinators to increase awareness of how important they are to our community, our salmon runs and food production. I\u2019ll be using my prize money to fund my pollinator packets. I learned a lot of my computer skills because of my CFK idea,\u201d said 13-year-old DeVolld.
\n\"3<\/a>
\nTaking fourth place honors and $750 was Homer High student Vianne Sarber. Vianne used her incredible skills in art and graphic design to create a children\u2019s storybook titled \u2018Sophie Saves the Sea.\u2019 Vianne plans to publish the book through Kindle. \u201cI\u2019m incredible grateful to Mr. Stineff for assigning CFK to me. I allows me to learn and use my skills to make a difference,\u201d said Sarber.
\nWith a catchy (and original) rap, Jacob Topp took 5th<\/sup> place with his rap to remind people about \u2018Nice Ice Safety.\u2019 The rap, set to Vanilla Ice\u2019s \u2018Ice, Ice Baby,\u2019 is designed to be played over the radio and promote a Facebook page with regular ice safety updates.
\nThe team of Landon Vyhmeister and Josiah Nunn won 6th<\/sup> place and a $550 prize with a video game they developed. The project, titled \u2018R.I.S.E. U.P.\u2019, challenges students at different age levels to survive various natural disasters. The boys are working to have their game included in school curriculum.
\n\"End<\/a>
\nFinalists who earned $400 each for making it to the final 12 out of 400 plus entries are:<\/strong><\/p>\n