A&M-Texarkana PEP Students, Local Engineers Participate in Engineering Olympics at Sci-Port
Students from Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s Partner, Engage, Prepare (PEP) project partnered with engineers from area industries to compete in the National Engineers’ Week Engineering Olympics in February at Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.
PEP mentees from Texas High School, Arkansas High School, Liberty-Eylau High School and Pleasant Grove High School participated in the event, which was sponsored by the Louisiana Engineering Society and Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
Participating engineers included Matt Long, Eric Schott, Aleeya Watson, Alyssa Blackson, Austin Vaughn and Brandon Ayers, all of Domtar; Lauren Wells, Emily Roder and Lithopolis Miller, all of the International Paper Texarkana Mill; Heidi Peterson and Steven Rysavy, both of the International Paper Mansfield Mill; and Richard Byrd of Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.
Throughout the day, the students and their engineer-partners competed in a design and problem-solving competition, mechanical engineering challenge, robotics challenge, aeronautical engineering challenge, structural challenge, electronics challenge and awards ceremony.
“Our PEP students had a wonderful time participating in the events,” said Kimberly Bursey-Reece, project administrator for the PEP project at A&M-Texarkana. “We are extremely grateful for the support of the participating engineers and our local industries. Our students were so encouraged by their partner-engineers and excited about the various engineering career fields they explored throughout the day.”
Winning teams were as follows:
First Place – Mechanical (Team 6)
- Justin Franklin – Texas High School
- Kelsey Cromartie – Arkansas High School
- Colby Williams – Arkansas High School
First Place – Electrical (Team 7)
- Keyondra Gamble –Texas High School
- Dominique Dodd – Arkansas High School
- Mahogany Braxton – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Laquita Steward – Arkansas High School
- Ja’Darius Irvin – Pleasant Grove High School
First Place – Aeronautical (Team 2)
- Brandy Coulter – Texas High School
- Ny’Unna Chambers – Arkansas High School
- Jared Akers – Pleasant Grove High School
- Tyechia Jackson – Arkansas High School
Second Place – Mechanical (Team 3)
- Darius Coulter – Texas High School
- Dominique Clark – Arkansas High School
- Jaden Adams – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Hunter Nesselrose – Pleasant Grove High School
Second Place – Electrical (Team 10)
- Sterlynn James – Texas High School
- Terrance Revill – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Logan Wesley – Pleasant Grove High School
- Kevin Jefferson – Texas High School
Second Place – Aeronautical (Team 11)
- Tyrone Larkins – Texas High School
- Alma Martinez – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Hawley Holland – Arkansas High School
- Jesse Hays – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Sacoyia Johnson – Arkansas High School
Third Place – Mechanical (Team 9)
- Matricia Holmes – Texas High School
- Ayanna Evans –Arkansas High School
- Jesse Hughes – Pleasant Grove High School
- Kierra Jackson – Texas High School
Third Place – Electrical (Team 13)
- Jordan Ray – Texas High School
- Breanna McBride – Arkansas High School
- Andre Wiley – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Tre’ Scoggins –Texas High School
- Kaleb Petross – Arkansas High School
Third Place – Aeronautical (Team 5)
- Kiarra Douglas – Texas High School
- Clariza Balderas – Liberty-Eylau High School
- Nakina Levingston – Pleasant Grove High School
The PEP program’s mission is to partner with area high schools to identify sophomores, juniors and seniors and encourage them through an engagement and college preparation program to ensure their successful transition to an institution of higher education.
It is based on the Kids at Hope basic principle that all children are capable of success -- no exceptions. In order to achieve this success, children must have meaningful and sustainable relationships with caring adults and must be able to articulate a vision for their future.
