Paul Laurence Dunbar wrapped up another first-place finish among high schools in the 2013 Governor’s Cup, which wrapped up March 18 in Louisville, and Tates Creek took top honors in the future problem-solving (FPS) portion.
The Governor’s Cup, Kentucky’s premier academic competition, was founded in 1986 as a way to promote and reward outstanding achievement. A contest consists of five written assessment exams, composition or on-demand writing, future problem-solving and quick recall, also known as quiz bowl. Tates Creek finished ninth overall, while Dunbar was fourth in future problem-solving and a quarterfinalist in the quick-recall contest.
Top individual results from Fayette County Public Schools included:
Arts and Humanities: 7. Athena Kern, Dunbar
Language Arts: 5. Vania Ma, Dunbar
Composition: 5. Rachel Dixon, Tates Creek; 11. Jessie Li, Dunbar
Social Studies: 6. Michael Kamer, Henry Clay
Math: 2. Valerie Sarge, Dunbar; 6. Vania Ma, Dunbar
Science: 1. Valerie Sarge, Dunbar; 5. Chloe Cao, Dunbar; 7. Joseph Schneider, Dunbar
Tates Creek’s FPS team included Adam Childress, Rachel Dixon, Abby Mrvos and Richie Simpson. They beat out more than 30 other teams from across Kentucky that qualified for the finals. Students were asked to analyze the growing micoplastic pollution epidemic that threatens the sustainability of the world’s oceans. Tates Creek focused not on removing the plastic, but on reducing influx of new pollution. They proposed a debris forensics technology that tracks plastic pollution back to the source in order to promote extended producer and consumer responsibility.
Both Tates Creek and Dunbar's future problem solving teams will advance to the international competition, held June 6 − 9 at Indiana University.