DuPage County and SCARCE are accepting project proposals from high school students for the 13th annual Sustainable Design Challenge, Tuesday, April 16. The Sustainable Design Challenge encourages students to construct building and landscape models using environmental and water-friendly design practices.
DuPage County stormwater management committee chairman Jim Zay said, “Seeing the innovative building designs developed by high school students is really inspiring, and I have no doubt the students will implement some of these designs in the future.”
In addition to inspiring students to explore careers in urban planning, architecture, and engineering, the competition promotes environmental and stormwater education within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum in local high schools.
SCARCE founder and executive director Kay McKeen emphasizes the importance of hands-on STEM education.
“STEM education in schools has advanced by leaps and bounds over the years,” said McKeen. “However, the real life experience offered by the competition is so beneficial for the students because it gets them excited about pursuing these subjects in college and beyond.”
All DuPage County high schools are encouraged to participate. Frequent competitors include students from Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North, Naperville North, Glenbard South, Glenbard East, Addison Trail, College Preparatory School of America in Lombard, Neuqua Valley, York, Willowbrook, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, and Lake Park High Schools.
Registration will be open through the end of March. For information on participating in this year’s challenge, visit www.scarce.org/event/2019-sustainable-design-challenge.
All projects will be on display to the public at DuPage County’s JTK administration building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Tuesday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m..
— DuPage County