High School Mathematics-Physics SMILE Meeting
10 February 2004
Notes Prepared by Porter Johnson

The Math/Physics SMILE class meeting was held in the HUB auditorium, in conjunction with the 2004 Chicago Regional Bridge Building Contests. Here are the top four winners in each contest:

City of Chicago Region Mass (kg) Efficiency
 1  Dyrell Pollard   --   Brooks College Prep 36 1762
 2  Daniel McNicholas   --   Marist HS 24 1690
 3 Sylvester Black   -- ST Ignatius College Prep 32 1463
 4 Jamie Mandolini   -- ST Ignatius College Prep  37 1274
North Suburban Chicago Region

 1 Sam Norris-Burrill   --   Evanston Township HS 42 2119
 2  Tim Powers   --   North Shore Country Day 31 1682
 3 Samantha Greco   -- Batavia HS 35 1601
 4 John Barkhausen  -- North Shore Country Day  29 1226
South Suburban Chicago Region

 1  Don Ruffatto   --   Lincoln-Way Central HS 38 3052
 2 Sasha Bajzek   --   Tinley Park HS 39 1505
 3 Michael Blaser   -- Joliet Central HS 50 1497
 4 Russ Injerd   -- Homewood-Flossmoor HS 21 1479

First and Second place winners will compete in the International Contest to be held in Baltimore MD on April 24, and they receive round trip air tickets as a prize.  In addition, First, Second, Third and Fourth Place winners received Lava™ Lamps (a "new" plasma discharge type), and Bridge Contest T-shirts.  All the above winners received invitations to the Engineering Week Dinner, thanks to Chief Judge George Krupa.   A total of 151 bridges were tested by students from 50 city and suburban high schools at this 30th Annual Contest.

Each of the schools having winners received an elegant trophy for display. All participating schools will receive - via US mail (or via ISPP meetings) - photos of their students who participated, and all students will receive a Certificate of Merit, with special Certificates for winners. All students have already received an impressive medallion with red-white-blue ribbon. These are worn around the neck to identify them as participants within their schools and physics classes. Each has also received a special water bottle, courtesy of the Illinois Engineers Council. The Frank Garcher "traveling" Supertrophy was awarded to Joliet Central High School thanks to Michael Blaser, whose bridge carried the greatest load, 50 kg.

A BIG THANK YOU!!...to the Committee (Bill Blunk, Ann Brandon, Roy Coleman, Tom Jensen, John Kallend, George Krupa, Eduardo de Santiago, Carlo Segre, Bill Shanks, Lee Slick, Jim Stankevitz, Thomas Torres, Earl Zwicker) who have made it happen by giving of their talent and time. Several have served for 30 years!

Congratulations to all the winners, particularly to those who will be participating in the 2004 International Contest in April! For additional details on the contest, see the website http://bridgecontest.phys.iit.edu/.

Notes prepared by Porter Johnson