Above / DuPage County and SCARCE again will host 13th Annual Sustainable Design Challenge for local high school students to exhibit projects on April 16. (Sustainable Design Challenge File Photo from 2017)
Wheaton – DuPage County and SCARCE are now accepting project proposals from local high school students for the 13th annual Sustainable Design Challenge. Scheduled for April 16, the Sustainable Design Challenge encourages students to construct building and landscape models using environmental and water-friendly design practices.
“We look forward to hosting this event each year at the County,” said DuPage County Stormwater Management Committee Chairman Jim Zay. “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.”
Inspire students to explore careers via environmental education & more
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), Wheaton North, Naperville North, Glenbard South (Glen Ellyn), Glenbard East (Lombard), Addison Trail, College Preparatory School of America (Lombard), Neuqua Valley (Naperville), York High School (Elmhurst), Willowbrook (Villa Park), Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South (Darien) and Lake Park (Roselle) high schools.
Registration will be open through the end of March. For information on participating in this year’s challenge, visit https://www.scarce.org/event/2019-sustainable-design-challenge/.
Exhibit of projects is slated from 9 to 11AM Tues., April 16
All projects will be on display to the public at DuPage County’s JTK Administration Building (421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton) from 9 to 11AM on Tues., April 16.
Story submitted by Evan Shields, Public Information Officer, for DuPage County Board.
