Ohio Region Finals Format and Prizes

Upon arrival at the competition, teacher coaches will be asked to register their team and pick up an information packet. The other team members (family assistance permitted) will be directed to the room containing the models and will be asked to set up their model city and presentation items. Easels are not provided but feel free to bring up to two. (These do not count as part of your $100 limit.)

 

There is not much space for extra items such as coats and bags, but there are large lockers located at COSI for 50 cents.

 

After teams are set up, the judging begins. The special awards judging is only open to the teacher coach, engineer mentor, and three students.

 

Like most state academic competitions:

Ø  Only the students should interact with the judges.

Ø  Food and drinks should be kept away from the models.

Ø  The final around and model viewing and awards ceremony is open to the public.

  

Preliminary Model/Presentation Judging

 

See the teacher handbook for more details including sample questions.

 

Since 2006-07, the preliminary model/presentation judging takes place in a separate place from the Special awards judging with one team in one area. This judging is now open to friends/family members of the team presenting as it is at the national finals.

 

There is a total of 12 minutes for judging. The judges have 2 minutes to meet the students and see the model close up. Then, students give their 5-7 minute presentation to the team of judges. The remaining time is for the judges to ask questions of the three students. A second set of judges repeat this process in consecutive sessions in the same space.

 

Special Awards Judging

In conjunction with the preliminary model/presentation judging, there will be special awards judges circulating before lunch. It is kind of like a science fair where the students stay by their model and the judges rotate to them. The judges come and ask questions to the students specifically about a certain area. See list of our special awards below.

 

As of 2008-09, per the overwhelming request by both teams and judges for a quieter, roomier space during special awards judging, we are asking teachers and engineer mentor to wait outside the judging area with friends/family while the students are with the judges. Our goal is to give the students the best environment possible for their hard work and answers to be showcased to the judges.

 

They will introduce themselves as Special Awards judges. It is not necessary for you to go into the presentation for these judges. This will be a much shorter session aimed at answering only a few questions on a specific aspect of their project as it pertains to specific special awards.

 

All of the awards fit the guidelines of the project. By meeting the project’s requirements, each team will make themselves contenders. You don't need to worry about special focuses but you can work with the kids on what they might say about their city for each area, esp. certain vocabulary/concepts that may be new to the students (ex.- ceramic engineers deal with ceramics which include bricks and other common products). See the handbook for resources that may be helpful for Ohio’s special awards and the project in general.

 

Ohio Region's SPECIAL AWARDS: Each special award will be designated for and affiliated with a sponsor. It is very appropriate to send a thank you note to those sponsors should you receive the award. Below is a list of the Special Awards, descriptions, and sponsors that may be presented in this year’s competition. While this list may change in the future, it provides some insight.

 

To Be Judged by Volunteer Judges at the Competition:

 

* Best Infrastructure

Sponsored by The American Society of Civil Engineers -

Kevin Carpenter, American Society of Civil Engineers, C/o FMSM Engineers, 6600 Bush Boulevard, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio 43229

 

Cities with innovative designs for infrastructure systems will do well in the competition for the Best Infrastructure Award. The city should reflect a design that utilizes the most innovative infrastructure systems (e.g., transportation, power, communication, data, security, water, and sewer). The kids should give you the impression that they understand the concept of civil engineering and the role infrastructure plays in the functionality of their city. 

 

 

* Best Architectural Model

Sponsored by The American Institute of Architects – Columbus Chapter

Sandra LaFontaine, AIA, President, AIA Columbus, 21 West Broad Street, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215-4100

 

Cities that have structures in the city model that represent a variety of sizes, shapes, designs, colors, and materials will do well in Best Architectural Model. The city model should be aesthetically pleasing, and form should follow function in choosing methods and materials for construction. The kids should give you the impression that they understand the concept of architecture. 

 

 

* Most Environmentally Friendly

Sponsored by Stantec Consulting Services, Inc

 

Cities that have a plan for handling outflows from industrial, commercial and residential waste streams will do well in the Most Environmentally Friendly category. Recycling strategies, advanced energy plants that minimize pollution, treatment techniques, and efforts to keep effluent streams away from residential areas, green spaces, and water sources score high. The kids should give you the impression that they have spent time engineering processes all the way through to the waste stream.  

 

 

* Best Use of Transportation

Ford Motor Company Fund – Jim Vella

Jim Vella, Ford Motor Company Fund, Ford Motor Company Fund, One American Road, Suite 335, Dearborn, Michigan 48126

 

Cities that have a variety of roads, rails, people movers, subways, planes, rockets, and advanced transportation ideas score high in Best Use of Transportation. Also, positioning and accessibility of public transportation in relation to housing, shopping, and workplaces is important.  You should get the impression that the kids have spent time engineering the transportation system so that it allows workers and visitors to move easily around their city. 

 

 

* Most Economic Project

Gianola Financial Planning - Jill Gianola, Principal

Ms. Jill Gianola, Principal, Gianola Financial Planning, 2094 Tremont Center, Suite 4

Columbus, Ohio 43221

 

The student team should be aware of how their city did financially in the SimCity computer game. An understanding of the impact of revenues and taxes on the financial condition of their city is important. Students should understand that venues such as museums, sports arenas, zoos, and parks can generate revenue, but they also must be paid for through tax collections or other sources.

 

 

* Best Use of Energy

Ohio Department of Development - Office of Energy Efficiency Office of Energy Efficiency

Sherry Hubbard

Ms. Sherry Hubbard, Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy Efficiency, 26th Floor

77 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-6108

 

Cities that have advanced energy production facilities, energy efficient commuting, and have renewable, non-polluting energy sources will do well in the Energy category. Creativity is encouraged, but the kids should be able convince you that their energy system will work (even though it might be a stretch with current technology).  The kids should understand how their energy is produced, and have ideas on energy efficiency in industry, the workplace and at home.  

 

 

* Best Use of Recreation

Worthington AM Rotary Club

Worthington, OH AM Rotary Club, 2709 McVey Blvd West, Columbus, OH  43235

 

Cities that look fun will do well in Best Use of Recreation. Green space, water, parks, museums, zoos, sports arenas, and other areas for leisure activities score high. Also, a well thought out plan for how their citizens can spend their leisure time is important. This should be a fun category, and the kids should give you the impression that they would really have lots of fun if they lived in their city. 

 

 

* Best Use of Recycled Materials

Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education - Carolyn Watkins, Chief, Office of Environmental Education

Carolyn Watkins , Chief, Office of Environmental Education, Administrator, Ohio Environmental Education Fund, Ohio EPA, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH  43216-1049

 

Teams that incorporate a variety of odds and ends into their models that are then creatively developed into buildings, houses, parks, landscapes and other living spaces will do well in Best Use of Recycled Materials. This should be an especially creative category. There is a $100 limit on model and presentation materials costs for each team's project, so recycled materials should figure prominently in the cities depicted.  This should be a fun category, and the kids should understand the importance of recycling in the sustainability of a future city. 

 

 

 

* Best Use of Ceramics

Allied Mineral Products - Dana Goski

Ms. Dana Goski, Ceramic Engineer, Allied Mineral Products, 2700 Scioto Parkway, Marysville, Ohio 43221

 

Cities that incorporate traditional ceramics (plaster, cement, bricks, tableware, glass, tile, ceramic magnets, etc) as well as more advanced ceramics (superconducting magnets for Maglev, filters for purifying water, tile for spacecraft thermal insulation, optical fibers, electronics, sensors, solar panels and other advanced structural applications) will score high. The students should understand ceramics, and be able to describe why its properties are important for various applications.

 

 

* Best Use of Water Resources Engineering

Sponsored by Hull & Associates, Inc 

Mark Bonifas Hull & Associates, Inc – 6397 Emerald Parkway, Suite 200, Dublin, Ohio 43016

 

A city that plans good water resources management will do well in the Best Use of Water Resources Engineering category.  Credit will be awarded for selecting appropriate drinking water sources, treatment technologies, collection and distribution systems, and disposal locations.  In addition, the strategic location of drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, the use of water conservation strategies, innovative treatment techniques, and efforts to protect water sources and other sensitive resources score high. The kids should give you the impression that they have spent time engineering processes all the way from how they will provide drinking water through to the treatment and ultimate disposal of wastewater.

 

* Best Moving Part

Worthington AM Rotary Club

Worthington, OH AM Rotary Club, 2709 McVey Blvd West, Columbus, OH  43235

 

Cities are required to have a Moving Part as a component of the city model.  The Moving Part must function with a self-contained energy source and must contribute to the overall design and function of the city.  Moving Parts that are designed in a creative fashion, are powered in a unique way and incorporate unusual materials will do well in Best Moving Part award category.  The kids should give you the impression that they understand the function and importance of their Moving Part and its role in the design of their city. 

 

To Be Assessed by the Steering Committee:

 

* Best Essay

Society of Marketing Professionals - Cincinnati Chapter - Laurie Buckman

Ms. Laurie Buckman, SMPS Cincinnati Chapter, C/o URS Corporation, 36 East 7th Street, Suite 2300, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

Presented to the team with the highest Essay Score.

 

 

* Best Computer City Design

M-E Companies- Tim Foley, CEO

Mr. Tim Foley, CEO, M-E Companies, 635 Brooksedge Blvd., Westerville, Ohio 43081

 

Presented to the team with the highest Computer Design Score.

 

 

* Rookie of the Year

Collector Wells International - Andy Smith

Andy Smith, Collector Wells International, 6360 Huntley Road, Columbus, Ohio 43229

                       

Presented to the team with the highest overall scores from a school that has never been represented at the Ohio Regional Competition

 

 

To Be Voted Upon by the Participants at the Competition:

 

* People's Choice

Sponsored by Battelle Memorial Institute - Rick Hall

Mr. Rick Hall, Battelle, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201

 

This award is based on individual preferance. Five people's choice ballots are in each team's registration packet – one for each member of the team. Only the competing team members can vote. The voting takes place during lunch and must be turned in by 12:30 p.m. Ballots are turned in at the ballot box on the FCC registration table.

 

 

Mayors’ Walk

Mayors will be invited to visit with teams from their respective communities during the regional finals. Invitations will be sent to the mayors of those teams that have submitted their Computer Map Disk, Computer Score Sheet, and Essay and Abstract.  There will be plenty of photo opportunities and we will be contacting local news media.  After lunch, mayors are welcome to stay and watch the judging between the top five teams and the awards ceremony. 

 

The Finals: Top 5 Judging

Preliminary model/presentation judging scores are added to the previously judged computer map disk, computer score sheet, and abstract and essay scores. Based on these calculations, the Top 5 teams are announced after lunch. Teams retrieve their models from the model room and place them in the holding area behind the stage.

 

The Top 5 teams will be judged again on their models and presentations by a new panel of judges. Like Nationals, this takes place on a stage in front of the public. The Top 5 teams are isolated and can't hear the other groups' presentations. Once called, each team moves their model from a holding area to the stage and sets it on a skirted table a few feet in front of the judges' table. Teacher and engineer mentor may be needed to help move the model but will not be on stage with the three students during the presentation. Visual aids should also be brought to the stage. The final round of judging proceeds as it did in the preliminary judging with only one judging session (instead of two like in the prelim round). Judges are invited to go over and view the models and greet the teams for 1-2 minutes. The team then gives their 5-7 min. presentation to the panel and the judges ask questions. Viewing, presenting, and questioning do not exceed 12 minutes.

 

When teams are finished with their final round, they can return to the audience for the rest of the teams’ presentations.

 

Note: Teams may want to practice holding a marker or the like as a microphone in preparation for this portion. Teams may even want to practice sharing the microphone (i.e., marker or the like) as there are usually 2 corded or cordless microphones to share at the region and three cordless microphones at the national competition.

 

Awards Ceremony

At the Awards Ceremony, the FCC Coordinator will introduce the emcee, and the emcee will invite each team come on stage where the student receive medals.  Then the steering committee names are read, and our sponsors are given the opportunity to share a few words.

 

Next, Special Awards recipients and those earning Honorable Mentions are announced and asked to come to the stage for presentation of the awards and a team photograph. Following Special Awards presentations, the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place teams are announced and invited to the stage for their awards and photographs. After the final applause, thank you, and dismissal, those in the top five places are asked to remain for further photographs with their models.

 

Future City Competition –Ohio Region supports the idea that the “Best of…” award should be present to the one that truly represents the best in that category. Of one team excels and deserves first place in more than one area, then they will be recognized as such.

 

Finally, the 1st place team and their family members are asked to stay for an Orientation Meeting about the National Finals with the Regional Coordinator. The meeting is brief, but very important.

 

Prizes

 

1st place = ReArt recycled glass awards with stands, trophy for the team, medals for each team member, trip to Washington, D.C. with hotel and airfare provided by Nationals, $300 stipend for each team member to use at Nationals

 

2nd – 5th places = ReArt recycled glass awards with stands, medals for each team member, and $25 (new for 2006) for each team member

 

Special Awards: ReArt recycled glass suncatchers and the honorable mention recipients will receive certificates

 

All participants at the regional finals will receive medals, personalized participation certificates, Future City T-shirts, and one team photograph for the school that will be mailed with the score sheets 2-3 weeks from the date of the competition.