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GFA announces Spring 2025 STEM Challenge winners
Posted on Apr 30, 2025 at 14:26 PM
Elementary students across Georgia put their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to the test in the Spring 2025 STEM Challenge, Recycle & Reimagine, hosted by the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA). More than 550 students in third through fifth grades participated, including special education classes, homeschool groups, and after-school programs.
The challenge invited students to tackle real-world agricultural problems by designing creative solutions using only recycled materials. Participants submitted video presentations showcasing everything from pollinator hotels and seed ball launchers to full-scale chicken tractors.
First-place winners were selected by grade level and awarded a prize package totaling $350 per class—$100 in classroom items and a $250 supply grant.
The PCES Seed Slingers from Pike County Elementary School, led by Amanda Wood, claimed the third-grade title. Their native seed ball launcher combined hands-on sustainability with a deep understanding of local ecosystems and pollinator needs.
The Frindles from Banks County Elementary School, led by Priscilla Gilreath, took top honors in the fourth-grade category. Their pollinator hotel, built entirely from recycled materials, highlighted collaboration with local farmers and emphasized community involvement in sustainability efforts.
High Shoals Elementary School in Oconee County, led by Victoria Wynne, won the fifth-grade category with a functional chicken tractor constructed from repurposed materials. Their project stood out for its engineering, environmental benefit, and classroom collaboration.
Runner-up recognition was awarded to: The Cheeksters from Glynn County (3rd grade); Carmel’s AIMventors from Cherokee County (4th grade); and NES Quest from McDuffie County (5th grade).
“Watching these students turn recycled materials into real tools for farming and sustainability was inspiring,” said GFA Educational Programs Assistant Phoebe Beard. “Their creativity and problem-solving skills really shined, and it was clear how much they learned about agriculture along the way. We’re so grateful to the teachers, county Farm Bureaus and communities who helped make these projects possible.”
The biannual STEM Challenge is organized by GFA’s Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom program and is sponsored by GFA and Georgia Farm Bureau.
By connecting STEM concepts to real-world issues in food production, recycling, and environmental sustainability, the challenge encourages Georgia students to explore agriculture's vital role in solving global problems.
The next STEM Challenge will launch in Fall 2025. To view the winning videos, please visit https://www.gafoundationag.org/stemchallenge.
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