An alumna returned to Poplar Bluff Schools, not long after she graduated at the top of her class, to speak with the Junior High design and modeling class about her experiences thus far studying engineering.

Valedictorian and student body president of the PBHS Class of 2019, Sophie Rowland, who served as guest speaker on Thursday, Sept. 29, is a junior at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla and works for Proterra, an electric vehicle technology manufacturer.

“All engineers have one objective, and it’s to solve problems,” Rowland told the class, which included exploring careers students for part of the school day. She broke down the different branches of engineering, noting that she works as a system engineer, “designing processes to be more efficient.”

Following a short presentation, Rowland led a group exercise that involved constructing a boat out of a 6-by-6 inch piece of aluminum foil using a single pair of scissors. The team with the structure that holds the greatest number of pennies without sinking in a tub of water won a treat.

Instructor Jodie Berry’s team “taco” led the challenge during third hour, with 111 pennies. Eighth grader Bryant Miller explained that their victorious strategy was to make the sides of the structure the most compact. “We kept packing [the tinfoil] in and packing it in,” he commented, speculating that if they doubled up on layering the bottom of the boat as well, the boat could hold even more coins.

When the class reconvened to analyze the experiment, Rowland revealed that the top team created a boat with the highest surface area to distribute the weight. During the Q&A portion of the lecture afterward, Rowland advocated for the engineering career field, comparing the salary range to that of a doctor, without the additional years of post-graduate schooling.

She will complete her engineering degree in just four years, and then take the principles and practice of engineering exam in order to be declared a professional. Part of the Missouri S&T program is to complete an engineering co-op, and Rowland has ambitiously landed apprenticeships at C.E. Norton Construction & Plumbing, Hunter Engineering Company and her most recent job.

Serving as project manager, helping to build battery-powered buses, Rowland shared how Poterra makes the only bus in the world fabricated entirely out of composite material so the lightweight, aerodynamic vehicle can travel further. She worked full time at the South Carolina operation over the summer, she said, when the fifth-generation bus was released.

“I wish I had something like this when I was in school – even at the high school level,” Rowland later observed of the new Project Lead the Way elective, which is one of three Gateway courses offered this year. She said she was just fortunate to connect with local engineers to gain some initial exposure in the field.

According to Berry, the PLTW design and modeling class will continue to expose the students to as many STEM-related careers—in science, technology, engineering and math—as possible. The next guest speaker lined up will be an orthotist.

Above: Engineering student Sophie Rowland, who was on fall break, places pennies in a model boat for an experiment, while teachers Jodie and Mike Berry oversee.

Below: Sophie Rowland of the PBHS Class of 2019 shows PLTW design and modeling students a picture of an electric bus she helped build.

A Eugene Field teacher has received a dozen STEM kits with hands-on building manipulatives for students to ‘go beyond the basic skills’ in the subject areas through a new grant program rolled out by the Missouri Retired Teachers’ Association.

First grade teacher Michelle Adams recently had her $458 request funded in large part by the organization through its inaugural Cash for Classrooms program, with a match from hands2mind, a school supply company. The set of science, technology, engineering and math bins contain unified cubes, straws and connections, and task cards.

“It always means so much to me to receive help for my students, but receiving it from retired teachers makes it that much more special,” wrote Adams on Tuesday, Aug. 24, via DonorsChoose. “I will use these STEM bins to inspire students’ creativity and love for learning so that maybe one day I will get to be the retired teacher supporting one of their classrooms.”

Under MRTA Cash for Classrooms, the Butler County Retired Teachers and School Personnel unit pledged $119 for the project, which was matched in part by the state organization with another $20 coming from an anonymous donor. The total contribution was doubled by hands2mind in a company promotion Adams initially became aware of when she listed her project online.

The BCRTSP selected Adams’ entry through DonorsChoose, and requested approval under the new MRTA program, which offered $15,000 in matching funds of up to $100 per local unit, with a chance for another $100 on a first-come, first-serve basis if funding is still available. Grant proposals must be submitted via the national nonprofit, which is the No. 1 classroom funding website for public school educators.

Above: (Adults, left to right) Eugene Field counselor Esther Luna; Kadi Dare, Patty Reed and Linda Surber of the BCRTSP; teacher Michelle Adams; and students Tucker Chance Lakin and Maci Ray.

A total of 15 out of 21 music students of Poplar Bluff High School were selected for the All-District Choir on Saturday, Sept. 25, at Cape Central High School.

During the audition, students were judged on sight-reading and art songs they had prepared which, according to vocal music director Joshua Allen, are short vocal selections from the fine arts tradition.

PBHS All-District Choir members include: Emma Harris and Alyssa Roy in the junior/senior soprano section, and Victoria Conover in the freshman/sophomore section; Lexy Rowland and Emma Tinsley in the junior/senior alto section, and Harley Stilwell in the freshman/sophomore section; Keith Donnell, Bralin Duckett, Christian Redding and Isaac Reid in the junior/senior tenor section, and Gabriel Burke, Andrew Noble and Jakai Sellers in the freshman/sophomore section; and Brent Hanley and Dawson Vaughan in the junior/senior bass section.

The All-District concert will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Cape Central High School.

Above: (Front row, left to right) Gabriel Burke, Jakai Sellers, Andrew Noble, Alyssa Roy, Emma Harris and Lexy Rowland; (middle row, from left) Keith Donnell, Christian Redding, Isaac Reid, Victoria Conover and Harley Stilwell; (top row, left to right) Bralin Duckett, Dawson Vaughan, Brent Hanley, Emma Tinsley and instructor Joshua Allen.

Due to the rain, the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center has rescheduled its 2nd Car & Motor Show for 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, on campus at 3209 Oak Grove Rd. The cost is $20 in advance or $25 the day of to enter a car, truck, boat or side-by-side here. Platinum, gold and silver sponsorships are available. For details, contact auto repair instructor Denni White at denniwhite@pb.k12.mo.us. Proceeds for the annual fundraiser go toward program-related events/trips for students to experience and discover new tools, techniques, technology and innovations offered in their respective industries.

On Tuesday, Sept. 28, the ShowMe Times reported about our puppet theater project funded by the MRTF; and our Chromebook donation from Sparklight. 

KAIT8 reported about our Mark Twain students partnering to give out food and supplies at the Bread Shed.

On Wednesday, Sept. 29, KFVS12 shot a news segment about our Mark Twain/Bread Shed partnership.

The DAR reported about our Junior High puppet theater grant.

On Thursday, Sept. 30, KWOC reported about the return of the Mules Café.

The DAR reported about our Beta Club’s Dr. Pepper Pigskin Points fundraiser. 

On Friday, Oct. 1, the DAR posted a photo gallery from the Sho-Me Marching Band’s Wright City Marching Festival competition.

On Saturday, Oct. 2, the DAR reported about the annual Guidon Ceremony of our JROTC; and the 65th reunion of PBHS Class of 1956.

On Sunday, Oct. 3, the ShowMe Times reported about our Mark Twain/Bread Shed collaboration.