Students from Carleton Place High School took first place in the ICE Innovation Challenge, held May 30 in Kemptville. The team of young entrepreneurs won $900 in the Dragon’s Den style competition with their ZesCube cell phone case. They printed plastic phone cases on the school’s 3-D printer as an example of their business, which will promote increased use of the printer technology in education. The mission is to create tech-savvy graduates with relevant skills and experience.
The group plans to market plastic cellphone cases made on a 3-D printer to raise funds to buy more 3D printers, and create a sustainable technology program at the school. Money won at the competition will also be put towards the purchase of another printer. Group members have taught teachers how to use the printers, as well as a Grade 8 reach-ahead communications technology class, and a senior business class that now produces hair pins and bow ties.
Another impressive project in the competition came from a team of international students in Gananoque. Their Face Time project would link seniors in a nearby retirement home with international students needing to practice their English.
(Pictured above: The team from Carleton Place High School took top spot in the ICE Innovation Challenge on Thursday in Kemptville. Pictured, left to right, are: Austin Pereira, Nick Simpson, Kyle Lanzinger and teacher Chad Norbraten.)