The month of March has been a busy time at Eminence for many student events. Eminence Independent, for both middle and high school, offers a huge variety of student programs that fit interests ranging from the arts to STEM and allows students to experience competition at both state and national levels.
On March 2, Eminence High School student, DaYou Choi won 1st place at both the Louisville Regional Science and Engineering Fair in the Systems Software category and at the KY-SEF. Choi is now advancing to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May.
That following weekend, on March 9, the Eminence High School Robot Gladiator League Team battled at Rowan County High School, against the Nelson County Team. Although experiencing a close loss in this battle, the Eminence team geared up to battle against Jackson Independent two weeks later, on March 23. The Eminence team came with new and improved weapon systems but after suffering other technical difficulties shortly before the battle, the victory was won by Jackson Independent.
The final Robot Gladiator League battle before the Championship Melee at Morehead State University will be on April 9 at Jackson Independent High School, where the Eminence team faces Russell County High School.
Eminence High School, among many other ongoing student clubs, restarted its Odyssey of the Mind team this year for the first time since 2020. This student program is a competition where teams of students work together to solve annual challenges and present a theatrical performance completely produced by the students — from the script to the costumes and set. Coached by Virgil Berrong and Steve Metcalf, Eminence’s Odyssey of the Mind team advanced to the state competition on March 16, finishing runner-up and qualifying for the national level. This program stands apart from many of the other Eminence student programs with its particular focus on creativity, art and theater.
In other activity, the Kentucky Technology Student Association, TSA, hosted its annual conference on March 18-20 in Louisville. This program hosts over 50 different STEM-based competitions for middle and high school students ranging from robotics, architecture, research and technology. The Eminence TSA chapter competed in the state conference, with a very successful turnout for both the middle and high school teams, having nine different events qualify for the 2024 National TSA Conference in June at Orlando: Chapter Team, Tech Problem Solving, Biotech Design, Forensics, Mechanical Engineering, Prepared Presentation, Engineering Design, Problem Solving and the Community Service Video.
Finally, to close out the month of March at Eminence, the Student Technology Leadership Program, STLP, hosted its annual state championship at the Rupp Arena in Lexington on March 27.
Eminence students Harrison Gilbert and Anthony Wayman were semifinalists in the Showcase project event, out of hundreds of other projects, making this event one of STLP’s most competitive.
Eminence Middle School student, SungHyun Choi placed 1st in the 3D design event. Eminence High School students Truman Gilbert, Adelaide Dennis, Maddy Berrong, DaYoung and DaYou Choi also won awards in their respective STEM-centered events.